Nucleic acid constructs and methods for producing altered seed oil compositions

ABSTRACT

The present invention is in the field of plant genetics and provides recombinant nucleic acid molecules, constructs, and other agents associated with the coordinate manipulation of multiple genes in the fatty acid synthesis pathway. In particular, the agents of the present invention are associated with the simultaneous enhanced expression of certain genes in the fatty acid synthesis pathway and suppressed expression of certain other genes in the same pathway. Also provided are plants incorporating such agents, and in particular plants incorporating such constructs where the plants exhibit altered seed oil compositions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.10/669,888 filed Sep. 25, 2003; Ser. No. 10/668,240 filed on Sep. 24,2003; now U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,771; Ser. No. 10/393,347 filed Mar. 21,2003; Ser. No. 10/508,401 filed Mar. 25, 2005; and claims the benefitunder 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Nos.60/772,614, filed Feb. 13, 2006, and 60/781,519, entitled Soybean SeedAnd Oil Compositions And Method For Making Same, filed Mar. 10, 2006,U.S. application Ser. No. 10/669,888, filed Sep. 25, 2003 whichapplication claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application Nos. 60/365,794, filed Mar. 21, 2002, and60/390,185, filed Jun. 21, 2002. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/668,240,filed on Sep. 24, 2003, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/393,347, filed Mar. 21, 2003, which application claims thebenefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Nos.60/365,794, filed Mar. 21, 2002, and 60/390,185, filed Jun. 21, 2002.U.S. application Ser. No. 10/393,347, filed Mar. 21, 2003, claims thebenefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Nos.60/365,794, filed Mar. 21, 2002, and 60/390,185, filed Jun. 21, 2002.U.S. application Ser. No. 10/508,401, filed Mar. 25, 2005, is a nationalphase continuation of PCT/US03/08610, filed Mar. 21, 2003, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/365,794, filed Mar.21, 2002, and 60/390,185, filed Jun. 21, 2002. The entirety of each ofthese applications is hereby incorporated by reference.

INCORPORATION OF SEQUENCE LISTING

A paper copy of the Sequence Listing and a computer readable form of thesequence listing on diskette, containing the file named “Omni2 ASFILED.txt”, which is 60,690 bytes in size (measured in MS-DOS) and whichwas recorded on Sep. 25, 2003 and filed in U.S. application Ser. No.10/669,888, are herein incorporated by reference. A paper copy of theSequence Listing and a computer readable form of the sequence listing ondiskette, containing the file named “OmniChild.txt”, which is 61,434bytes in size (measured in MS-DOS) and which was recorded on Mar. 15,2006 is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to recombinant nucleic acid molecules,constructs, and other agents associated with the coordinate manipulationof multiple genes in the fatty acid synthesis pathway. In particular,the agents of the present invention are associated with the simultaneousenhanced expression of certain genes in the fatty acid synthesis pathwayand suppressed expression of certain other genes in the same pathway.The present invention is also directed to plants incorporating suchagents, and in particular to plants incorporating such constructs wherethe plants exhibit altered seed oil compositions.

BACKGROUND

Plant oils are used in a variety of applications. Novel vegetable oilcompositions and improved approaches to obtain oil compositions, frombiosynthetic or natural plant sources, are needed. Depending upon theintended oil use, various different fatty acid compositions are desired.Plants, especially species which synthesize large amounts of oils inseeds, are an important source of oils both for edible and industrialuses. Seed oils are composed almost entirely of triacylglycerols inwhich fatty acids are esterified to the three hydroxyl groups ofglycerol.

Soybean oil typically contains about 16-20% saturated fatty acids:13-16% palmitate and 3-4% stearate. See generally Gunstone et al., TheLipid Handbook, Chapman & Hall, London (1994). Soybean oils have beenmodified by various breeding methods to create benefits for specificmarkets. However, a soybean oil that is broadly beneficial to majorsoybean oil users such as consumers of salad oil, cooking oil and fryingoil, and industrial markets such as biodiesel and biolube markets, isnot available. Prior soybean oils were either too expensive or lacked animportant food quality property such as oxidative stability, good friedfood flavor or saturated fat content, or an important biodiesel propertysuch as appropriate nitric oxide emissions or cold tolerance or coldflow.

Higher plants synthesize fatty acids via a common metabolic pathway—thefatty acid synthetase (FAS) pathway, which is located in the plastids.β-ketoacyl-ACP synthases are important rate-limiting enzymes in the FASof plant cells and exist in several versions. β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase Icatalyzes chain elongation to palmitoyl-ACP (C16:0), whereasβ-ketoacyl-ACP synthase II catalyzes chain elongation to stearoyl-ACP(C18:0). β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV is a variant of β-ketoacyl-ACPsynthase II, and can also catalyze chain elongation to 18:0-ACP. Insoybean, the major products of FAS are 16:0-ACP and 18:0-ACP. Thedesaturation of 18:0-ACP to form 18:1-ACP is catalyzed by aplastid-localized soluble delta-9 desaturase (also referred to as“stearoyl-ACP desaturase”). See Voelker et al., 52 Annu. Rev. PlantPhysiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 335-61 (2001).

The products of the plastidial FAS and delta-9 desaturase, 16:0-ACP,18:0-ACP, and 18:1-ACP, are hydrolyzed by specific thioesterases (FAT).Plant thioesterases can be classified into two gene families based onsequence homology and substrate preference. The first family, FATA,includes long chain acyl-ACP thioesterases having activity primarily on18:1-ACP. Enzymes of the second family, FATB, commonly utilize 16:0-ACP(palmitoyl-ACP), 18:0-ACP (stearoyl-ACP), and 18:1-ACP (oleoyl-ACP).Such thioesterases have an important role in determining chain lengthduring de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in plants, and thus these enzymesare useful in the provision of various modifications of fatty acylcompositions, particularly with respect to the relative proportions ofvarious fatty acyl groups that are present in seed storage oils.

The products of the FATA and FATB reactions, the free fatty acids, leavethe plastids and are converted to their respective acyl-CoA esters.Acyl-CoAs are substrates for the lipid-biosynthesis pathway (KennedyPathway), which is located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Thispathway is responsible for membrane lipid formation as well as thebiosynthesis of triacylglycerols, which constitute the seed oil. In theER there are additional membrane-bound desaturases, which can furtherdesaturate 18:1 to polyunsaturated fatty acids. A delta-12 desaturase(FAD2) catalyzes the insertion of a double bond into 18:1, forminglinoleic acid (18:2). A delta-15 desaturase (FAD3) catalyzes theinsertion of a double bond into 18:2, forming linolenic acid (18:3).

Many complex biochemical pathways have now been manipulated genetically,usually by suppression or over-expression of single genes. Furtherexploitation of the potential for plant genetic manipulation willrequire the coordinate manipulation of multiple genes in a pathway. Anumber of approaches have been used to combine transgenes in oneplant—including sexual crossing, retransformation, co-transformation,and the use of linked transgenes. A chimeric transgene with linkedpartial gene sequences can be used to coordinately suppress numerousplant endogenous genes. Constructs modeled on viral polyproteins can beused to simultaneously introduce multiple coding genes into plant cells.For a review, see Halpin et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 47:295-310 (2001).

Thus, a desired plant phenotype may require the expression of one ormore genes and the concurrent reduction of expression of another gene orgenes. Thus, there exists a need to simultaneously over-express one ormore genes and suppress, or down-regulate, the expression of a anothergene or genes in plants using a single transgenic construct.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a recombinant nucleic acid molecule ormolecules, which when introduced into a cell or organism are capable ofsuppressing, at least partially reducing, reducing, substantiallyreducing, or effectively eliminating the expression of at least one ormore endogenous FAD2, FAD3, or FATB RNAs while at the same timecoexpressing, simultaneously expressing, or coordinately producing oneor more RNAs or proteins transcribed from a gene encodingbeta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I, beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV, delta-9desaturase, or CP4 EPSPS. The present invention also provides plantcells and plants transformed with the same nucleic acid molecule ormolecules, and seeds, oil, and other products produced from thetransformed plants.

Also provided by the present invention is a recombinant nucleic acidmolecule comprising a first set of DNA sequences that is capable, whenexpressed in a host cell, of suppressing the endogenous expression of atleast one, preferably two, genes selected from the group consisting ofFAD2, FAD3, and FATB genes; and a second set of DNA sequences that iscapable, when expressed in a host cell, of increasing the endogenousexpression of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of abeta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I gene, a beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV gene,a delta-9 desaturase gene, and CP4 EPSPS.

Further provided by the present invention is a recombinant nucleic acidmolecule comprising a first set of DNA sequences that is capable, whenexpressed in a host cell, of forming a dsRNA construct and suppressingthe endogenous expression of at least one, preferably two, genesselected from the group consisting of FAD2, FAD3, and FATB genes, wherethe first set of DNA sequences comprises a first non-coding sequencethat expresses a first RNA sequence that exhibits at least 90% identityto a non-coding region of a FAD2 gene, a first antisense sequence thatexpresses a first antisense RNA sequence capable of forming adouble-stranded RNA molecule with the first RNA sequence, a secondnon-coding sequence that expresses a second RNA sequence that exhibitsat least 90% identity to a non-coding region of a FATB gene, and asecond antisense sequence that expresses a second antisense RNA sequencecapable of forming a double-stranded RNA molecule with the second RNAsequence; and a second set of DNA sequences that is capable, whenexpressed in a host cell, of increasing the endogenous expression of atleast one gene selected from the group consisting of a beta-ketoacyl-ACPsynthase I gene, a beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV gene, a delta-9desaturase gene, and CP4 EPSPS.

The present invention provides methods of transforming plants with theserecombinant nucleic acid molecules. The methods include a method ofproducing a transformed plant having seed with an increased oleic acidcontent, reduced saturated fatty acid content, and reducedpolyunsaturated fatty acid content, comprising (A) transforming a plantcell with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule which comprises a firstset of DNA sequences that is capable, when expressed in a host cell, ofsuppressing the endogenous expression of at least one, preferably two,genes selected from the group consisting of FAD2, FAD3, and FATB genes,and a second set of DNA sequences that is capable, when expressed in ahost cell, of increasing the endogenous expression of at least one geneselected from the group consisting of a beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase Igene, a beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV gene, a delta-9 desaturase gene,and CP4 EPSPS; and (B) growing the transformed plant, where thetransformed plant produces seed with an increased oleic acid content,reduced saturated fatty acid content, and reduced polyunsaturated fattyacid content relative to seed from a plant having a similar geneticbackground but lacking the recombinant nucleic acid molecule.

Further provided are methods of transforming plant cells with therecombinant nucleic acid molecules. The methods include a method ofaltering the oil composition of a plant cell comprising (A) transforminga plant cell with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule which comprises afirst set of DNA sequences that is capable, when expressed in a hostcell, of suppressing the endogenous expression of at least one,preferably two, genes selected from the group consisting of FAD2, FAD3,and FATB genes, and a second set of DNA sequences that is capable, whenexpressed in a host cell, of increasing the endogenous expression of atleast one gene selected from the group consisting of a beta-ketoacyl-ACPsynthase I gene, a beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV gene, a delta-9desaturase gene, and CP4 EPSPS; and (B) growing the plant cell underconditions where transcription of the first set of DNA sequences and thesecond set of DNA sequences is initiated, where the oil composition isaltered relative to a plant cell with a similar genetic background butlacking the recombinant nucleic acid molecule.

The present invention also provides a transformed plant comprising arecombinant nucleic acid molecule which comprises a first set of DNAsequences that is capable, when expressed in a host cell, of suppressingthe endogenous expression of at least one, preferably two, genesselected from the group consisting of FAD2, FAD3, and FATB genes, and asecond set of DNA sequences that is capable, when expressed in a hostcell, of increasing the endogenous expression of at least one geneselected from the group consisting of a beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase Igene, a beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV gene, a delta-9 desaturase gene,and CP4 EPSPS. Further provided by the present invention is atransformed soybean plant bearing seed, where the seed exhibits an oilcomposition which comprises 55 to 80% by weight oleic acid, 10 to 40% byweight linoleic acid, 6% or less by weight linolenic acid, and 2 to 8%by weight saturated fatty acids, and feedstock, plant parts, and seedderived from the plant. In another embodiment, the present inventionprovides a transformed soybean plant bearing seed, where the seedexhibits an oil composition which comprises about 65-80% oleic acid,about 3-8% saturates, and about 12-32% polyunsaturates. Also included isfeedstock, plant parts, and seed derived from such plant. In anotherembodiment, the present invention provides a transformed soybean plantbearing seed, where the seed exhibits an oil composition which comprisesabout 65-80% oleic acid, about 2-3.5% saturates, and about 16.5-33%polyunsaturates. Also included is feedstock, plant parts, and seedderived from such plant.

The present invention provides a soybean seed exhibiting an oilcomposition comprising 55 to 80% by weight oleic acid, 10 to 40% byweight linoleic acid, 6% or less by weight linolenic acid, and 2 to 8%by weight saturated fatty acids, and also provides a soybean seedexhibiting an oil composition comprising 65 to 80% by weight oleic acid,10 to 30% by weight linoleic acid, 6% or less by weight linolenic acid,and 2 to 8% by weight of saturated fatty acids. In another embodiment,the present invention provides a soybean seed exhibiting an oilcomposition comprising about 65-80% oleic acid, about 3-8% saturates,and about 12-32% polyunsaturates. In another embodiment, the presentinvention provides a soybean seed exhibiting an oil composition whichcomprises about 65-80% oleic acid, about 2-3.5% saturates, and about16.5-33% polyunsaturates.

Also provided by the present invention are soyfoods comprising an oilcomposition which comprises 69 to 73% by weight oleic acid, 21 to 24% byweight linoleic acid, 0.5 to 3% by weight linolenic acid, and 2-3% byweight of saturated fatty acids.

The crude soybean oil provided by the present invention exhibits an oilcomposition comprising 55 to 80% by weight oleic acid, 10 to 40% byweight linoleic acid, 6% or less by weight linolenic acid, and 2 to 8%by weight saturated fatty acids. Another crude soybean oil provided bythe present invention exhibits an oil composition comprising 65 to 80%by weight oleic acid, 10 to 30% by weight linoleic acid, 6% or less byweight linolenic acid, and 2 to 8% by weight of saturated fatty acids.In another embodiment, the crude soybean oil provided by the presentinvention exhibits an oil composition comprising about 65-80% oleicacid, about 3-8% saturates, and about 12-32% polyunsaturates. In anotherembodiment, the crude soybean oil provided by the present inventionexhibits an oil composition comprising about 65-80% oleic acid, about2-3.5% saturates, and about 16.5-33% polyunsaturates.

The present invention also provides a soybean seed exhibiting an oilcomposition comprising about 42% to about 85% by weight oleic acid andabout 8% to about 1.5% by weight saturated fatty acids. In anotherembodiment, a soybean seed of the present invention exhibits an oilcomposition comprising about 42% to about 85% by weight oleic acid,about 8% to about 1.5% by weight saturated fatty acids, less than 35% byweight linolenic acid, wherein a combined amount of the oleic acid andthe linolenic acid is about 65% to about 90% by weight of the total oilcomposition; and the seed has a recombinant nucleic acid molecule with aDNA sequence that has a fragment of FAD2-1 intron between about 50 andabout 400 contiguous nucleotides in length, a FATB 3′ UTR, and a FATB 5′UTR, a heterologous beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV, and a heterologousdelta-9 desaturase in a host cell.

A soybean seed of the present invention can exhibit an oil compositioncomprising about 50% to about 80% by weight oleic acid, about 8% toabout 1.5% by weight saturated fatty acids, about 2% to about 45% byweight linoleic acid, about 4% to about 14% by weight linolenic acid,wherein a combined amount of the oleic acid and the linolenic acid isabout 65% to about 90% by weight of the total oil composition, and theseed comprises a recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a DNAsequence that comprises a fragment of FAD2-1 intron that is betweenabout 50 and about 400 contiguous nucleotides in length, a FATB CTPcoding region, and 42 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB 5′ UTR. Inanother embodiment, a soybean seed can comprise a recombinant nucleicacid molecule comprising a DNA sequence that suppresses the endogenousexpression of FAD2 and FATB, wherein the seed exhibits an oilcomposition comprising 46 to 75% by weight oleic acid, 1.5 to 8.5% byweight saturated fatty acids, 2.5 to 38% by weight linoleic acid, and4.5 to 17.5% by weight linolenic acid.

The present invention also includes a method of reducing the amount ofFAD2 gene suppression relative to the amount of FAD2 gene suppressionobtained by expressing a dsRNAi construct having a recombinant FAD2sequence consisting of an entire FAD2 intron or an entire FAD2 UTR by:i) expressing a recombinant FAD2 sequence in a plant cell, wherein therecombinant FAD2 sequence is derived from an endogenous FAD2 gene in aplant cell and the recombinant FAD2 sequence consists of a FAD2 intronfragment or a FAD2 UTR fragment; and ii) suppressing an endogenous FAD2gene with the recombinant FAD2 sequence, wherein the amount of FAD2 genesuppression is less than the amount of gene expression obtained byexpressing a dsRNAi construct having a recombinant FAD2 sequenceconsisting of the entire length of a FAD2 intron or the entire length ofa FAD2 UTR.

Also provided by the present invention are methods of altering the oilcomposition of a plant cell by: transforming a plant cell with arecombinant FAD2 sequence derived from part of an endogenous FAD2 gene.The recombinant FAD2 sequence consists of a FAD2 intron fragment or aFAD2 UTR fragment; and growing the plant cell under conditions wheretranscription of the recombinant FAD2 sequence is initiated, whereby theoil composition is altered relative to a plant cell with a similargenetic background but lacking the recombinant FAD2 sequence. In anotherembodiment, a method of enhancing oleic acid content and reducingsaturated fatty acid content in a plant seed by: i) shortening thelength of a first recombinant FAD2 sequence until the amount of FAD2gene suppression from a plant transformed with the first recombinantFAD2 sequence is at least partially reduced relative to the amount ofFAD2 gene suppression in a plant cell comprising a similar geneticbackground and a second recombinant FAD2 sequence, where the secondrecombinant FAD2 sequence consists of more endogenous FAD2 sequence thanthe first recombinant FAD2 sequence; ii) expressing a recombinant FA TBsequence capable of at least partially reducing FA TB gene expression ina plant cell relative to the suppression of FATB in a plant cell with asimilar genetic background but without the recombinant FATB sequence;iii) growing a plant with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprisingthe first recombinant FAD2 sequence and the recombinant FATB sequence;and iv) cultivating a plant that produces seed with a reduced saturatedfatty acid content relative to seed from a plant having a similargenetic background but lacking the first recombinant FAD2 sequence andthe recombinant FATB sequence.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention includes a method ofproducing a transformed plant having seed with a reduced saturated fattyacid content by: transforming a plant cell with a recombinant nucleicacid molecule which comprises a recombinant DNA sequence that suppressesthe endogenous expression of FAD2 and FATB, where the recombinant DNAsequence has a nucleic acid sequence of recombinant FAD2 and recombinantFATB, wherein the FAD2 sequence consists of less than the entiresequence of a FAD2 intron; and growing the transformed plant, whereinthe transformed plant produces seed with a reduced saturated fatty acidcontent relative to seed from a plant having a similar geneticbackground but lacking the recombinant DNA sequence.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method ofmodulating the fatty acid composition of oil from a seed of a temperateoilseed crop by isolating a genetic element of at least 40 nucleotidesin length that is capable of suppressing the expression of an endogenousgene in the fatty acid synthesis pathway; generating more than oneshortened fragment of the genetic element;

introducing each of the more than one shortened fragments into a plantcell of the temperate oilseed crop to produce transgenic plants; andselecting a transgenic plant comprising a shortened fragment ofdetermined length and sequence that effects a desirable change in seedoil fatty acid composition.

The present invention also includes a soybean seed exhibiting an oilcomposition having a strongly reduced saturated fatty acid content and amoderately enhanced oleic acid content having a DNA sequence thatsuppresses endogenous expression of FAD2 in a plant cell, where the DNAsequence has a recombinant FAD2 sequence consisting of a FAD2 intronfragment. Another embodiment of the present invention is a nucleic acidmolecule comprising a sequence of a FAD2-1A intron, where the FAD2-1Aintron fragment is between about 60 to about 320 contiguous nucleotides.In an alternative embodiment, the present invention also includes asoybean seed having a first recombinant DNA sequence that suppresses theexpression of endogenous soybean FAD2-1, comprising a soybean FAD2-1intron, and a second recombinant DNA sequence that expresses increasedlevels of a gene selected from the group consisting of KASI, delta-9desaturase, KASIV, and combinations thereof.

The present invention also includes a soybean plant cell of a soybeanseed exhibiting a seed oil fatty acid composition comprising an oleicacid content of about 42% to about 85% by weight of the total fattyacids and a saturated fatty acid content of less than 8% by weight ofthe total fatty acids. Also included in the present invention is asoybean plant cell of a soybean seed exhibiting a seed oil fatty acidcomposition comprising an oleic acid content of about 42% to about 85%by weight of total fatty acids and a linolenic acid content of less thanabout 3% by weight of the total fatty acids.

The present invention also includes a nucleic acid molecule with asequence of a FAD2-1A intron, where the FAD2-1A intron is between about60 to about 320 contiguous nucleotides. Also included is a recombinantDNA construct comprising a fragment of soybean FAD2-1 intron that isbetween about 20 and about 420 contiguous nucleotides in length and afragment of soybean FATB gene that is between about 40 and about 450contiguous nucleotides in length. Another embodiment includes arecombinant nucleic acid molecule having a first DNA sequence thatsuppresses endogenous expression of soybean FAD2-1 and FATB, where thefirst recombinant DNA sequence includes a fragment of FAD2-1 intron thatis between about 20 and about 420 contiguous nucleotides in length, asoybean FATB 3′ UTR, and a soybean FATB 5′ UTR or CTP coding area, and asecond recombinant DNA sequence that increases the expression of atleast one of the genes selected from the group consisting ofbeta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV and delta-9 desaturase.

The present invention also includes a non-blended soybean oil having afatty acid composition comprising an oleic acid content of about 42% toabout 85% by weight of the total fatty acids and a saturated fatty acidcontent of about 1.5% to about 8% by weight of the total fatty acids; anon-blended soybean oil having a fatty acid composition comprising anoleic acid content of from about 42% to about 85% by weight of the totalfatty acids and a saturated fatty acid content of about 8% or less byweight of the total fatty acids; a non-blended soybean oil having afatty acid composition comprising an oleic acid content of from about42% to about 85% by weight of total fatty acids and a linolenic acidcontent of less than 3% by weight of the total fatty acids; and anon-blended soybean oil having a fatty acid composition comprising anoleic acid content of from about 42% to about 85% by weight of the totalfatty acids, a saturated fatty acid content of about 8% or less byweight of the total fatty acids, and a linolenic acid content of about1.5% or less by weight of the total fatty acids.

The present invention also includes a soybean meal derived from asoybean seed exhibiting a seed oil fatty acid composition comprising anoleic acid content of about 42% to about 85% by weight of the totalfatty acids and a saturated fatty acid content of less than 8% by weightof the total fatty acids. Also included is a soybean meal derived from asoybean seed exhibiting a seed oil fatty acid composition comprising anoleic acid content of about 42% to about 85% by weight of total fattyacids and a linolenic acid content of less than about 3% by weight ofthe total fatty acids.

The present invention also includes a method of reducing the amount ofFAD2 gene suppression relative to the amount of FAD2 gene suppressionobtained by expressing a dsRNAi construct comprising a heterologous FAD2sequence consisting of an entire FAD2 intron or an entire FAD2 UTR, themethod by: i) expressing a heterologous FAD2 sequence in a plant cell,wherein the heterologous FAD2 sequence is derived from an endogenousFAD2 gene in a plant cell and consists of a FAD2 intron fragment or aFAD2 UTR fragment; and ii) suppressing an endogenous FAD2 gene with theheterologous FAD2 sequence, wherein the amount of FAD2 gene suppressionis less than the amount of gene expression obtained by expressing aheterologous FAD2 sequence consisting of the entire length of a FAD2intron or the entire length of a FAD2 UTR.

The present invention also includes a method of altering the oilcomposition of a plant cell by transforming a plant cell with aheterologous FAD2 sequence derived from part of an endogenous FAD2 gene,where the heterologous FAD2 sequence consists of a FAD2 intron fragmentor a FAD2 UTR fragment; and growing the plant cell under conditionswherein transcription of the heterologous FAD2 sequence is initiated,whereby the oil composition is altered relative to a plant cell with asimilar genetic background but lacking the heterologous FAD2 sequence.

The present invention also includes a method to enhance oleic acidcontent and reduce saturated fatty acid content in a plant seedcomprising i) shortening the length of a first heterologous FAD2sequence until the amount of FAD2 gene suppression from a planttransformed with the first heterologous FAD2 sequence is at leastpartially reduced relative to the amount of FAD2 gene suppression in aplant cell comprising a similar genetic background and a secondheterologous FAD2 sequence, wherein the second heterologous FAD2sequence consists of more endogenous FAD2 sequence than the firstheterologous FAD2 sequence; ii) expressing a heterologous FATB sequencecapable of at least partially reducing FATB gene expression in a plantcell relative to the suppression of FATB in a plant cell with a similargenetic background but without the heterologous FATB sequence; iii)growing a plant comprising a genome with the first heterologous FAD2sequence and the heterologous FATB sequence; and iv) cultivating a plantthat produces seed with a reduced saturated fatty acid content relativeto seed from a plant having a similar genetic background but lacking thefirst heterologous FAD2 sequence and the heterologous FATB sequence.

The present invention also includes a method of modulating the fattyacid composition of oil from a seed of a temperate oilseed cropcomprising, isolating a fragment of a genetic element of at least 40nucleotides in length that is capable of suppressing the expression ofan endogenous gene in the fatty acid synthesis pathway; introducing thegenetic element into a plant cell of the temperate oilseed crop;producing a transgenic plant; and selecting a transgenic plant seedcomprising the genetic element that modulates the fatty acid compositionof oil from the seed.

In another embodiment, the present invention includes a cell of asoybean seed exhibiting a seed oil fatty acid composition comprising anoleic acid content of about 42% to about 85% by weight of the totalfatty acids and a saturated fatty acid content of less than 8% by weightof the total fatty acids.

The present invention also includes a heterologous nucleic acid moleculecomprising a fragment of soybean FAD2-1 intron that is between about 20and about 420 contiguous nucleotides in length and a fragment of soybeanFATB gene that is between about 40 and about 450 contiguous nucleotidesin length. In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to aheterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequencecomprising a fragment of soybean FAD2-1 intron that is between about 20and about 420 nucleotides in length, a fragment of a soybean FATB genethat is between about 40 to about 450 nucleotides in length, and anucleic acid sequence that increases the expression of one or both ofbeta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV and delta-9 desaturase.

The present invention is also directed to a method for decreasinglinolenic acid content of a soybean seed by i) introducing into asoybean cell a heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising nucleicacid sequence from at least two members of a FAD3 gene family; ii)expressing a nucleic acid sequence from a FAD3 gene capable of at leastpartially reducing endogenous FAD3 gene expression in a plant cell; iii)growing a plant cell comprising a genome with the nucleic acid sequencefrom at least two members of the FAD3 gene family; and iv) cultivatingthe plant cell with a reduced linolenic acid content relative to a plantcell having a similar genetic background but lacking the at least twomembers of the FAD3 gene family. The present invention also includes arecombinant DNA construct with DNA fragments from at least two membersof FAD3 gene family.

The present invention also includes a non-blended soybean oil having afatty acid composition comprising an oleic acid content of from about42% to about 85% by weight of the total fatty acids, a saturated fattyacid content of about 8% or less by weight of the total fatty acids, anda linolenic acid content of about 1.5% or less by weight of the totalfatty acids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-4 each depict exemplary nucleic acid molecule configurations.

FIGS. 5( a)-(d) and 6(a)-(c) each depict illustrative configurations ofa first set of DNA sequences.

FIGS. 7-20 each depict nucleic acid molecules of the present invention.

FIG. 21 depicts the construct pMON68537.

FIG. 22 depicts the construct pMON68539.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Description of the Nucleic Acid Sequences

SEQ ID NO: 1 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FAD2-1A intron 1.

SEQ ID NO: 2 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FAD2-1B intron 1.

SEQ ID NO: 3 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FAD2-1B promoter.

SEQ ID NO: 4 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FAD2-1A genomic clone.

SEQ ID NOs: 5 & 6 are nucleic acid sequences of a FAD2-1A 3′ UTR and5′UTR, respectively.

SEQ ID NOs: 7-13 are nucleic acid sequences of FAD3-1A introns 1, 2, 3A,4, 5, 3B, and 3C, respectively.

SEQ ID NO: 14 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FAD3-1C intron 4.

SEQ ID NO: 15 is a nucleic acid sequence of a partial FAD3-1A genomicclone.

SEQ ID NOs: 16 & 17 are nucleic acid sequences of a FAD3-1A 3′UTR and5′UTR, respectively.

SEQ ID NO: 18 is a nucleic acid sequence of a partial FAD3-1B genomicclone.

SEQ ID NOs: 19-25 are nucleic acid sequences of FAD3-1 B introns 1, 2,3A, 3B, 3C, 4, and 5, respectively.

SEQ ID NOs: 26 & 27 are nucleic acid sequences of a FAD3-1 B 3′UTR and5′UTR, respectively.

SEQ ID NO: 28 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FATB-1 genomic clone.

SEQ ID NO: 29-35 are nucleic acid sequences of FATB-1 introns I, II,III, IV, V, VI, and VII, respectively.

SEQ ID NOs: 36 & 37 are nucleic acid sequences of a FATB-1 3′UTR and5′UTR, respectively.

SEQ ID NO: 38 is a nucleic acid sequence of a Cuphea pulcherrima KAS Igene.

SEQ ID NO: 39 is a nucleic acid sequence of a Cuphea pulcherrima KAS IVgene.

SEQ ID NOs: 40 & 41 are nucleic acid sequences of Ricinus communis andSimmondsia chinensis delta-9 desaturase genes, respectively.

SEQ ID NO: 42 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FATB-2 cDNA.

SEQ ID NO: 43 is a nucleic acid sequence of a FATB-2 genomic clone.

SEQ ID NOs: 44-47 are nucleic acid sequences of FATB-2 introns I, II,III, and IV respectively.

SEQ ID NOs: 48-60 are nucleic acid sequences of PCR primers.

SEQ ID NOs: 61 & 62 are nucleic acid sequences of soybean FAD3-1C 3′UTRand 5′UTR, respectively.

Definitions

“ACP” refers to an acyl carrier protein moiety. “Altered seed oilcomposition” refers to a seed oil composition from a transgenic ortransformed plant of the invention which has altered or modified levelsof the fatty acids therein, relative to a seed oil from a plant having asimilar genetic background but that has not been transformed.

“Antisense suppression” refers to gene-specific silencing that isinduced by the introduction of an antisense RNA molecule.

“Coexpression of more than one agent such as an mRNA or protein” refersto the simultaneous expression of an agent in overlapping time framesand in the same cell or tissue as another agent. “Coordinated expressionof more than one agent” refers to the coexpression of more than oneagent when the production of transcripts and proteins from such agentsis carried out utilizing a shared or identical promoter.

“Complement” of a nucleic acid sequence refers to the complement of thesequence along its complete length.

“Cosuppression” is the reduction in expression levels, usually at thelevel of RNA, of a particular endogenous gene or gene family by theexpression of a homologous sense construct that is capable oftranscribing mRNA of the same strandedness as the transcript of theendogenous gene. Napoli et al., Plant Cell 2:279-289 (1990); van derKrol et al., Plant Cell 2:291-299 (1990).

“Crude soybean oil” refers to soybean oil that has been extracted fromsoybean seeds, but has not been refined, processed, or blended, althoughit may be degummed.

“CTP” refers to a chloroplastic transit peptide, encoded by the“chloroplastic transit peptide coding sequence”

When referring to proteins and nucleic acids herein, “derived” refers toeither directly (for example, by looking at the sequence of a knownprotein or nucleic acid and preparing a protein or nucleic acid having asequence similar, at least in part, to the sequence of the known proteinor nucleic acid) or indirectly (for example, by obtaining a protein ornucleic acid from an organism which is related to a known protein ornucleic acid) obtaining a protein or nucleic acid from a known proteinor nucleic acid. Other methods of “deriving” a protein or nucleic acidfrom a known protein or nucleic acid are known to one of skill in theart.

Double-stranded RNA (“dsRNA”), double-stranded RNA interference(“dsRNAi”) and RNA interference (“RNAi”) all refer to gene-specificsilencing that is induced by the introduction of a construct capable oftranscribing an at least partially double-stranded RNA molecule. A“dsRNA molecule” and an “RNAi molecule” both refer to a region of an RNAmolecule containing segments with complementary nucleotide sequences andtherefore can hybridize with each other and form double-stranded RNA.Such double-stranded RNA molecules are capable, when introduced into acell or organism, of at least partially reducing the level of an mRNAspecies present in a cell or a cell of an organism. In addition, thedsRNA can be created after assembly in vivo of appropriate DNA fragmentsthrough illegitimate recombination and site-specific recombination asdescribed in International Application No. PCT/US2005/004681, filed onFeb. 11, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

“Exon” refers to the normal sense of the term as meaning a segment ofnucleic acid molecules, usually DNA, that encodes part of or all of anexpressed protein.

“Fatty acid” refers to free fatty acids and fatty acyl groups.

“Gene” refers to a nucleic acid sequence that encompasses a 5′ promoterregion associated with the expression of the gene product, any intronand exon regions and 3′ or 5′ untranslated regions associated with theexpression of the gene product.

“Gene silencing” refers to the suppression of gene expression ordown-regulation of gene expression.

A “gene family” is two or more genes in an organism which encodeproteins that exhibit similar functional attributes, and a “gene familymember” is any gene of the gene family found within the genetic materialof the plant, e.g., a “FAD2 gene family member” is any FAD2 gene foundwithin the genetic material of the plant. An example of two members of agene family are FAD2-1 and FAD2-2. A gene family can be additionallyclassified by the similarity of the nucleic acid sequences. A gene,FAD2, for example, includes alleles at that locus. Preferably, a genefamily member exhibits at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, morepreferably at least 80% nucleic acid sequence identity in the codingsequence portion of the gene.

“Heterologous” means not naturally occurring together.

A nucleic acid molecule is said to be “introduced” if it is insertedinto a cell or organism as a result of human manipulation, no matter howindirect. Examples of introduced nucleic acid molecules include, but arenot limited to, nucleic acids that have been introduced into cells viatransformation, transfection, injection, and projection, and those thathave been introduced into an organism via methods including, but notlimited to, conjugation, endocytosis, and phagocytosis.

“Intron” refers to the normal sense of the term as meaning a segment ofnucleic acid molecules, usually DNA, that does not encode part of or allof an expressed protein, and which, in endogenous conditions, istranscribed into RNA molecules, but which is spliced out of theendogenous RNA before the RNA is translated into a protein. An “introndsRNA molecule” and an “intron RNAi molecule” both refer to adouble-stranded RNA molecule capable, when introduced into a cell ororganism, of at least partially reducing the level of an mRNA speciespresent in a cell or a cell of an organism where the double-stranded RNAmolecule exhibits sufficient identity to an intron of a gene present inthe cell or organism to reduce the level of an mRNA containing thatintron sequence.

A “low saturate” oil composition contains between 3.6 and 8 percentsaturated fatty acids.

A “mid-oleic soybean seed” is a seed having between 50% and 85% oleicacid present in the oil composition of the seed.

A “low linolenic” oil composition contains less than about 3% linolenicacid by weight of the total fatty acids.

The term “non-coding” refers to sequences of nucleic acid molecules thatdo not encode part or all of an expressed protein. Non-coding sequencesinclude but are not limited to introns, promoter regions, 3′untranslated regions (3′UTRs), and 5′ untranslated regions (5′UTRs).

The term “oil composition” refers to levels of fatty acids.

A promoter that is “operably linked” to one or more nucleic acidsequences is capable of driving expression of one or more nucleic acidsequences, including multiple coding or non-coding nucleic acidsequences arranged in a polycistronic configuration.

“Physically linked” nucleic acid sequences are nucleic acid sequencesthat are found on a single nucleic acid molecule.

A “plant” includes reference to whole plants, plant organs (e.g.,leaves, stems, roots, etc.), seeds, and plant cells and progeny of thesame.

The term “plant cell” includes, without limitation, seed suspensioncultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, leaves, roots,shoots, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, and microspores.

“Plant promoters,” include, without limitation, plant viral promoters,promoters derived from plants, and synthetic promoters capable offunctioning in a plant cell to promote the expression of an mRNA.

A “polycistronic gene” or “polycistronic mRNA” is any gene or mRNA thatcontains transcribed nucleic acid sequences which correspond to nucleicacid sequences of more than one gene targeted for suppression orexpression. It is understood that such polycistronic genes or mRNAs maycontain sequences that correspond to introns, 5′UTRs, 3′UTRs, transitpeptide encoding sequences, exons, or combinations thereof, and that arecombinant polycistronic gene or mRNA might, for example withoutlimitation, contain sequences that correspond to one or more UTRs fromone gene and one or more introns from a second gene.

A “seed-specific promoter” refers to a promoter that is activepreferentially or exclusively in a seed. “Preferential activity” refersto promoter activity that is substantially greater in the seed than inother tissues, organs or organelles of the plant. “Seed-specific”includes without limitation activity in the aleurone layer, endosperm,and/or embryo of the seed.

“Sense intron suppression” refers to gene silencing that is induced bythe introduction of a sense intron or fragment thereof. Sense intronsuppression is described, for example by Fillatti in PCT WO 01/14538 A2.

“Simultaneous expression” of more than one agent such as an mRNA orprotein refers to the expression of an agent at the same time as anotheragent. Such expression may only overlap in part and may also occur indifferent tissue or at different levels.

“Total oil level” refers to the total aggregate amount of fatty acidwithout regard to the type of fatty acid. As used herein, total oillevel does not include the glycerol backbone.

“Transgene” refers to a nucleic acid sequence associated with theexpression of a gene introduced into an organism. A transgene includes,but is not limited to, a gene endogenous or a gene not naturallyoccurring in the organism. A “transgenic plant” is any plant that stablyincorporates a transgene in a manner that facilitates transmission ofthat transgene from a plant by any sexual or asexual method.

A “zero saturate” oil composition contains less than 3.6 percentsaturated fatty acids.

When referring to proteins and nucleic acids herein, the use of plaincapitals, e.g., “FAD2”, indicates a reference to an enzyme, protein,polypeptide, or peptide, and the use of italicized capitals, e.g.,“FAD2”, is used to refer to nucleic acids, including without limitationgenes, cDNAs, and mRNAs. A cell or organism can have a family of morethan one gene encoding a particular enzyme, and the capital letter thatfollows the gene terminology (A, B, C) is used to designate the familymember, i.e., FAD2-1A is a different gene family member from FAD2-1B.

As used herein, any range set forth is inclusive of the end points ofthe range unless otherwise stated.

A. Agents

The agents of the invention will preferably be “biologically active”with respect to either a structural attribute, such as the capacity of anucleic acid molecule to hybridize to another nucleic acid molecule, orthe ability of a protein to be bound by an antibody (or to compete withanother molecule for such binding). Alternatively, such an attribute maybe catalytic and thus involve the capacity of the agent to mediate achemical reaction or response. The agents will preferably be“substantially purified.” The term “substantially purified,” as usedherein, refers to a molecule separated from substantially all othermolecules normally associated with it in its native environmentalconditions. More preferably a substantially purified molecule is thepredominant species present in a preparation. A substantially purifiedmolecule may be greater than 60% free, greater than 75% free, preferablygreater than 90% free, and most preferably greater than 95% free fromthe other molecules (exclusive of solvent) present in the naturalmixture. The term “substantially purified” is not intended to encompassmolecules present in their native environmental conditions.

The agents of the invention may also be recombinant. As used herein, theterm “recombinant” means any agent (e.g., including but not limited toDNA or peptide), that is, or results, however indirectly, from humanmanipulation of a nucleic acid molecule. It is also understood that theagents of the invention may be labeled with reagents that facilitatedetection of the agent, e.g., fluorescent labels, chemical labels,and/or modified bases.

Agents of the invention include DNA molecules that have a nucleotidesequence which is capable of being transcribed in sense- andantisense-orientations that form at least one RNA molecule that is, atleast in part, double-stranded. In a preferred embodiment, an agent ofthe invention is a double-stranded RNA molecule having a nucleotidesequence that is a fragment of FAD2, FATB, or FAD2 and FATB. In anotherembodiment, an agent of the present invention is a DNA molecule capableof being transcribed to produce sense- and antisense-orientations of anucleotide sequence in a host cell. In another embodiment, a nucleicacid molecule can have a nucleotide sequence in a sense orientation andin an antisense orientation, or in another embodiment, a nucleic acidmolecule can have a nucleotide sequence in a sense orientation or anantisense orientation. Such nucleotide sequences can be operably linkingto the same promoter, different promoters, a single promoter, or morethan one promoter. Such nucleotide sequences can be on a single DNAmolecule or more than one DNA molecule.

Agents of the invention include nucleic acid molecules that comprise aDNA sequence which is at least 50%, 60%, or 70% identical over theirentire length to a plant coding region or non-coding region, or to anucleic acid sequence that is complementary to a plant coding ornon-coding region. More preferable are DNA sequences that are, overtheir entire length, at least 80% identical; at least 85% identical; atleast 90% identical; at least 95% identical; at least 97% identical; atleast 98% identical; at least 99% identical; or 100% identical to aplant coding region or non-coding region, or to a nucleic acid sequencethat is complementary to a plant coding or non-coding region.

“Identity,” as is well understood in the art, is a relationship betweentwo or more polypeptide sequences or two or more nucleic acid moleculesequences, as determined by comparing the sequences. In the art,“identity” also means the degree of sequence relatedness betweenpolypeptide or nucleic acid molecule sequences, as determined by thematch between strings of such sequences. “Identity” can be readilycalculated by known methods including, but not limited to, thosedescribed in Computational Molecular Biology, Lesk, ed., OxfordUniversity Press, New York 1988; Biocomputing: Informatics and GenomeProjects, Smith, ed., Academic Press, New York 1993; Computer Analysisof sequence Data, Part I, Griffin and Griffin, eds., Humana Press, NewJersey 1994; Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology, von Heinje,Academic Press 1987; Sequence Analysis Primer, Gribskov and Devereux,eds., Stockton Press, New York 1991; and Carillo and Lipman, SIAM J.Applied Math, 48:1073 1988.

Methods to determine identity are designed to give the largest matchbetween the sequences tested. Moreover, methods to determine identityare codified in publicly available programs. Computer programs which canbe used to determine identity between two sequences include, but are notlimited to, GCG; a suite of five BLAST programs, three designed fornucleotide sequences queries (BLASTN, BLASTX, and TBLASTX) and twodesigned for protein sequence queries (BLASTP and TBLASTN). The BLASTXprogram is publicly available from NCBI and other sources, e.g., BLASTManual, Altschul et al., NCBI NLM NIH, Bethesda, Md. 20894; Altschul etal., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990). The well-known Smith Watermanalgorithm can also be used to determine identity.

Parameters for polypeptide sequence comparison typically include thefollowing: Algorithm: Needleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453(1970); Comparison matrix: BLOSSUM62 from Hentikoff and Hentikoff, Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915-10919 (1992); Gap Penalty: 12; Gap LengthPenalty: 4. A program that can be used with these parameters is publiclyavailable as the “gap” program from Genetics Computer Group (“GCG”),Madison, Wis. The above parameters along with no penalty for end gap arethe default parameters for peptide comparisons.

Parameters for nucleic acid molecule sequence comparison include thefollowing: Algorithm: Needleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Bio. 48:443-453(1970); Comparison matrix: matches —+10; mismatches=0; Gap Penalty: 50;Gap Length Penalty: 3. As used herein, “% identity” is determined usingthe above parameters as the default parameters for nucleic acid moleculesequence comparisons and the “gap” program from GCG, version 10.2.

Subsets of the nucleic acid sequences of the present invention includefragment nucleic acid molecules. “Fragment nucleic acid molecule” refersto a piece of a larger nucleic acid molecule, and it may consist ofsignificant portion(s) of, or indeed most of, the larger nucleic acidmolecule. The fragment nucleic acid molecule may comprise a smalleroligonucleotide having from about 15 to about 400 contiguous nucleotidesand more preferably, about 15 to about 45 contiguous nucleotides, about20 to about 45 contiguous nucleotides, about 15 to about 30 contiguousnucleotides, about 21 to about 30 contiguous nucleotides, about 21 toabout 25 contiguous nucleotides, about 21 to about 24 contiguousnucleotides, about 19 to about 25 contiguous nucleotides, or about 21contiguous nucleotides. Fragment nucleic acid molecules may consist ofsignificant portion(s) of, or indeed most of, a plant coding ornon-coding region, or alternatively may comprise smalleroligonucleotides. In a preferred embodiment, a fragment shows 100%identity to the plant coding or non-coding region. In another preferredembodiment, a fragment comprises a portion of a larger nucleic acidsequence. In another aspect, a fragment nucleic acid molecule has anucleic acid sequence that has at least 15, 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, or400 contiguous nucleotides of a nucleic acid molecule of the presentinvention. In a preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid molecule has anucleic acid sequence that has at least 15, 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, or400 contiguous nucleotides of a plant coding or non-coding region. In amost preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid molecule has a nucleic acidsequence that has about 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90%of the contiguous nucleotides of an entire coding or non-coding region.In a preferred embodiment, an entire coding or non-coding region can bea gene element selected from an entire gene, a single exon, a singleintron, a signal sequence, or an untranslated region (UTR). A geneelement that does not have the entire sequence of an entire geneticelement can be a fragment of a gene element. In a preferred aspect ofthe present invention, a genetic element is at least 40 nucleotides inlength. In an aspect of the present invention, a fragment of a gene is aportion of the entire gene element and such a fragment containscontiguous nucleotides from about 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70,80, or 90% of the entire gene element. In an aspect of the presentinvention, a fragment nucleic acid molecule is between about 5%-about80%, between about 10%-about 70%, between about 10%-about 60%, betweenabout 10%-about 50%, between about 25%-about 60%, between about25%-about 50%, between about 40%-about 60%, between about 40%-about 80%,between about 50%-about 90% of the length of an entire gene element.

In a preferred embodiment, a fragment of FAD2-1 intron is between about20 and about 420, about 30 and about 420, between about 40 and about320, between about 50 and about 200, between about 50 and about 400,between about 50 and about 420, between about 60 and about 320, about 70and about 220, between about 100 and about 200, between about 100 andabout 320, between about 150 and about 200,between about 150 and about220, between about 150 and about 400, between about 200 and about 300,or between about 300 and about 400 contiguous nucleotides. In anotherpreferred embodiment, a fragment of FAD2-1 intron is about 100, about150, about 200, about 220, about 250, about 300, about 320, or about 350contiguous nucleotides in length. In another preferred embodiment, aFAD2-1 intron fragment is reduced in length by about 20, about 40, about60, about 80, about 100, about 120, about 140, about 160, about 180,about 200, about 220, about 240, about 260, about 280, about 290, about300, about 320, about 340, about 360, about 380, about 400 contiguousnucleotides compared to the length of SEQ ID NO: 1. For all of theseFAD2-1 intron fragments, the truncation or deletion can start at the 5′end, start at the 3′ end, or be internal to a FAD2-1 intron. For all ofthese FAD2-1 intron fragments, the sequence of a FAD2-1 intron can beSEQ ID NO: 1.

In a preferred embodiment, a fragment of a FATB gene is about 80 toabout 450, about 100 to about 500, about 70 to about 500, about 200 toabout 400, about 150 to about 300, about 250 to about 350, about 200 toabout 350 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB gene. In a preferredembodiment, a FATB fragment is derived from one-half of the totalnucleotides in FA TB starting at the 5′ end. For all of these FATBfragments, the truncation or deletion can start at the 5′ end, start atthe 3′ end, or be internal to FATB. In a preferred embodiment, a FATBfragment is derived from one-half of the total nucleotides in FATBstarting at the 5′ end of FATB, is derived from one-third of the totalnucleotides in FATB that are closest to the 5′ end. In a particularlypreferred embodiment, a FATB fragment contains a transit peptideencoding sequence, which preferably encodes for the chloroplast transitpeptide. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a FATB fragment is afragment of a transit peptide encoding sequence, which preferablyencodes for the chloroplast transit peptide. In another particularlypreferred embodiment, a FATB fragment further includes about 20, about25, about 30, about 35, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, about 45, about 50,about 55, or about 60 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB 5′ UTR. In a mostpreferred embodiment, a fragment includes a combination of two or morediscontinuous fragments or separate gene elements, such as a FATB 3′ UTRfused to a FATB 5′ UTR. Agents of the invention include nucleic acidmolecules. For example, without limitation, in an aspect of the presentinvention, the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprisesan intron sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 32, 33, 34, 35,44, 45, 46, or 47 or fragments thereof or complements thereof. Inanother aspect of the invention, the nucleic acid molecule comprises anucleic acid sequence, which when introduced into a cell or organism, iscapable of suppressing the production of an RNA or protein whilesimultaneously expressing, coexpressing or coordinately expressinganother RNA or protein. In an aspect of the invention, the nucleic acidmolecule comprises a nucleic acid sequence, which when introduced into acell or organism is capable of suppressing, at least partially reducing,reducing, substantially reducing, or effectively eliminating theexpression of endogenous FAD2, FAD3, and/or FATB RNA while at the sametime coexpressing, simultaneously expressing, or coordinately expressingat least one of a beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I, beta-ketoacyl-ACPsynthase IV, delta-9 desaturase, and/or CP4 EPSPS RNA or protein.

By suppressing, at least partially reducing, reducing, substantiallyreducing, or effectively eliminating the expression of at least one ormore endogenous genes, the amount of FAD2 and/or FAD3 available in aplant cell is decreased, i.e. the steady-state levels of the protein arereduced, and a decreased percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids suchas linoleate (C18:2) and linolenate (C18:3) may be provided.Modifications in the pool of fatty acids available for incorporationinto triacylglycerols may likewise affect the composition of oils in theplant cell. Thus, a decrease in expression of FAD2 and/or FAD3 mayresult in an increased proportion of mono-unsaturated fatty acids suchas oleate (C18:1). When the amount of FATB is decreased in a plant cell,a decreased amount of saturated fatty acids such as palmitate andstearate may be provided. Thus, a decrease in expression of FATB mayresult in an increased proportion of unsaturated fatty acids such asoleate (18:1). The simultaneous suppression of FAD2, FAD3, and FATBexpression thereby results in driving the FAS pathway toward an overallincrease in mono-unsaturated fatty acids of 18-carbon length, such asoleate (C18: 1). See U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,650.

By increasing the amount of beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I (KAS I) and/orbeta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV (KAS IV) available in a plant cell, adecreased percentage of 16:0-ACP may be provided, leading to anincreased percentage of 18:0-ACP. A greater amount of 18:0-ACP incombination with the simultaneous suppression of one or more of FAD2,FAD3, and FATB, thereby helps drive the oil composition toward anoverall increase in oleate (C18:1). By increasing the amount of delta-9desaturase available in a plant cell, an increased percentage ofunsaturated fatty acids may be provided, resulting in an overalllowering of stearate and total saturates.

These combinations of increased and decreased enzyme expression may bemanipulated to produce oil compositions, including fatty acids, havingan increased oleate level, decreased linoleate, linolenate, stearate,and/or palmitate levels, and a decreased overall level of saturates.Enhancement of gene expression in plants may occur through theintroduction of extra copies of coding sequences of the genes into theplant cell or, preferably, the incorporation of extra copies of codingsequences of the gene into the plant genome. Over-expression may alsooccur though increasing the activities of the regulatory mechanisms thatregulate the expression of genes, i.e., up-regulation of the geneexpression.

Production of CP4 EPSPS in a plant cell provides the plant cell withresistance or tolerance to glyphosate, thereby providing a convenientmethod for identification of successful transformants viaglyphosate-tolerant selection.

Suppression of gene expression in plants, also known as gene silencing,occurs at both the transcriptional level and post-transcriptional level.There are various methods for the suppression of expression ofendogenous sequences in a host cell, including, but not limited to,antisense suppression, co-suppression, ribozymes, combinations of senseand antisense (double-stranded RNAi), promoter silencing, and DNAbinding proteins such as zinc finger proteins. (See, e.g., WO 98/53083,WO 01/14538, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,829 (Shewmaker.)). Certain of thesemechanisms are associated with nucleic acid homology at the DNA or RNAlevel. Such homology refers to similarity in DNA or protein sequenceswithin the same species or among different species. Gene silencingoccurs if the DNA sequence introduced to a host cell is sufficientlyhomologous to an endogenous gene that transcription of the introducedDNA sequence will induce transcriptional or post transcriptional genesilencing of the endogenous gene. Sufficient homology for suppression ofsteady state expression levels may be at least 50%, about 60%, or about70% identical over the entire length of a DNA sequence to a plant codingregion or non-coding region, or to a nucleic acid sequence that iscomplementary to a plant coding or non-coding region. More preferableare DNA sequences that are, over their entire length, at least 80%identical; at least 85% identical; at least 90% identical; at least 95%identical; at least 97% identical; at least 98% identical; at least 99%identical; or 100% identical to a plant coding region or non-codingregion, or to a nucleic acid sequence that is complementary to a plantcoding or non-coding region. In plants, double-stranded RNA moleculescan induce sequence-specific silencing. Gene silencing was oftenreferred to as double-stranded RNA (“dsRNAi”) in plants, as RNAinterference or RNAi in Caenorhabditis elegans and in animals, and asquelling in fungi.

In a preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule of the presentinvention comprises a first set of DNA sequences, each of which exhibitssufficient homology to one or more coding or non-coding sequences of aplant gene such that when it is expressed, it is capable of effectivelyeliminating, substantially reducing, or at least partially reducing thelevel of an mRNA transcript or protein encoded by the gene from whichthe coding or non-coding sequence was derived, or any gene which hashomology to the target coding or non-coding sequence.

In a preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule of the presentinvention comprises (a) a first set of DNA sequences, each of whichexhibits sufficient homology to one or more coding or non-codingsequences of a plant gene such that when it is expressed, it is capableof effectively eliminating, substantially reducing, or at leastpartially reducing the level of an mRNA transcript or protein encoded bythe gene from which the coding or non-coding sequence was derived, orany gene which has homology to the target non-coding sequence, and (b) asecond set of DNA sequences, each of which exhibits sufficient homologyto a plant gene so that when it is expressed, it is capable of at leastpartially enhancing, increasing, enhancing, or substantially enhancingthe level of an mRNA transcript or protein encoded by the gene.

As used herein, “a set” of DNA sequences can be one or more sequences,which either code or do not code for a protein. For example, a first setof DNA sequences can be composed of only a promoter, a non-codingregion, and a terminator. A second set of DNA sequences can or can notbe present after or before a first set of DNA sequences.

As used herein, “a reduction” of the level or amount of an agent such asa protein or mRNA means that the level or amount is reduced relative toa cell or organism lacking a DNA sequence capable of reducing the agent.For example, “at least a partial reduction” refers to a reduction of atleast 25%, “a substantial reduction” refers to a reduction of at least75%, and “an effective elimination” refers to a reduction of greaterthan 95%, all of which reductions in the level or amount of the agentare relative to a cell or organism lacking a DNA sequence capable ofreducing the agent.

As used herein, “an enhanced” or “increased” level or amount of an agentsuch as a protein or mRNA means that the level or amount is higher thanthe level or amount of agent present in a cell, tissue or plant with asimilar genetic background but lacking an introduced nucleic acidmolecule encoding the protein or mRNA. For example, an “at leastpartially enhanced” level refers to an increase of at least 25%, and a“substantially enhanced” level refers to an increase of at least 100%,all of which increases in the level or amount of an agent are relativeto the level or amount of agent that is present in a cell, tissue orplant with a similar genetic background but lacking an introducednucleic acid molecule encoding the protein or mRNA. In a preferredembodiment, an increase in expression may be any expression where theprotein is heterologous to the system. For example, any expression ofCP4 EPSPS can be an increase in expression if there was no expression inthe plant prior to the introduction of a nucleic acid molecule encodingthe protein.

When levels of an agent are compared, such a comparison is preferablycarried out between organisms with a similar genetic background.Preferably, a similar genetic background is a background where theorganisms being compared share 50% or greater, more preferably 75% orgreater, and, even more preferably 90% or greater sequence identity ofnuclear genetic material. In another preferred aspect, a similar geneticbackground is a background where the organisms being compared areplants, and the plants are isogenic except for any genetic materialoriginally introduced using plant transformation techniques. Measurementof the level or amount of an agent may be carried out by any suitablemethod, non-limiting examples of which include comparison of mRNAtranscript levels, protein or peptide levels, and/or phenotype,especially oil content. As used herein, mRNA transcripts includeprocessed and non-processed mRNA transcripts, and proteins or peptidesinclude proteins or peptides with or without any post-translationalmodification.

The DNA sequences of the first set of DNA sequences may be codingsequences, intron sequences, 3′UTR sequences, 5′UTR sequences, promotersequences, other non-coding sequences, or any combination of theforegoing. The first set of DNA sequences encodes one or more sequenceswhich, when expressed, are capable of selectively reducing either orboth the protein and the transcript encoded by a gene selected from thegroup consisting of FAD2, FAD3, and FATB. In a preferred embodiment, thefirst set of DNA sequences is capable of expressing antisense RNA, inwhich the individual antisense sequences may be linked in onetranscript, or may be in unlinked individual transcripts. In a furtherpreferred embodiment, the first set of DNA sequences are physicallylinked sequences which are capable of expressing a single dsRNAmolecule. In a different preferred embodiment, the first set of DNAsequences is capable of expressing sense cosuppresion RNA, in which theindividual sense sequences may be linked in one transcript, or may be inunlinked individual transcripts. Exemplary embodiments of the first setof DNA sequences are described in Part B of the Detailed Description,and in the Examples.

The second set of DNA sequences encodes one or more sequences which,when expressed, are capable of increasing one or both of the protein andtranscript encoded by a gene selected from the group consisting ofbeta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I (KAS 1), beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV (KASIV), delta-9 desaturase, and CP4 EPSPS. The DNA sequences of the secondset of DNA sequences may be physically linked sequences. Exemplaryembodiments of the second set of DNA sequences are described below inParts C and D of the Detailed Description.

Thus, the present invention provides methods for altering thecomposition of fatty acids and compounds containing such fatty acids,such as oils, waxes, and fats. The present invention also providesmethods for the production of particular fatty acids in host cellplants. Such methods employ the use of the expression cassettesdescribed herein for the modification of the host plant cell's FASpathway.

B. First Set of DNA Sequences

In an aspect of the present invention, a nucleic acid molecule comprisesa first set of DNA sequences, which when introduced into a cell ororganism, expresses one or more sequences capable of effectivelyeliminating, substantially reducing, or at least partially reducing thelevels of mRNA transcripts or proteins encoded by one or more genes.Preferred aspects include as a target an endogenous gene, a plant gene,and a non-viral gene. In an aspect of the present invention, a gene is aFAD2, FAD3, or FATB gene.

In an aspect, a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprisesa DNA sequence which exhibits sufficient homology to one or more codingor non-coding sequences from a plant gene, which when introduced into aplant cell or plant and expressed, is capable of effectivelyeliminating, substantially reducing, or at least partially reducing thelevel of an mRNA transcript or protein encoded by the gene from whichthe coding or non-coding sequence(s) was derived. The DNA sequences ofthe first set of DNA sequences transcribe RNA sequences or RNA fragmentswhich exhibit at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, more preferably atleast 98%, or most preferably 100% identity to a coding or non-codingregion derived from the gene which is to be suppressed. Such percentidentity may be in comparison to another nucleic acid fragment.

Preferably, the non-coding sequence is a 3′UTR, 5′UTR, a fraction of asequence encoding a protein or an intron from a plant gene. Morepreferably, the non-coding sequence is a promoter sequence, 3′UTR,5′UTR, or an intron from a plant gene. The intron may be located betweenexons, or located within a 5′ or 3′ UTR of a plant gene. The codingsequence is preferentially a fraction of a protein encoding frame.

The sequence(s) of the first set of DNA sequences may be designed toproduce dsRNA, a sense suppression RNA, or an antisense RNA or any othersuppressing transcript in order to achieve the desired effect whenintroduced into a plant cell or plant. Such DNA sequence(s) may befragment nucleic acid molecules.

A plant intron can be any plant intron from a gene, whether endogenousor introduced. Nucleic acid sequences of such introns from organisms canbe obtained or derived from a multitude of sources, including, withoutlimitation, databases such as EMBL and Genbank which may be found on theInternet at ebi.ac.uk/swisprot/; expasy.ch/; embl-heidelberg.de/; andncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Nucleic acid sequences of such introns can also bederived, without limitation, from sources such as the GENSCAN programwhich may be found on the Internet at genes.mit.edu/GENSCAN.html.

Additional introns may also be obtained by methods which include,without limitation, screening a genomic library with a probe of eitherknown exon or intron sequences, comparing genomic sequence with itscorresponding cDNA sequence, or cloning an intron such as a soybean cDNAby alignment to a genomic sequence from another organism, such as, forexample, Arabidopsis. In addition, other nucleic acid sequences ofintrons will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Theabove-described methods may also be used to derive and obtain othernon-coding sequences, including but not limited to, promoter sequences,3′UTR sequences, and 5′UTR sequences.

A “FAD2”, “Δ12 desaturase” or “omega-6 desaturase” gene encodes anenzyme (FAD2) capable of catalyzing the insertion of a double bond intoa fatty acyl moiety at the twelfth position counted from the carboxylterminus. The term “FAD2-1” is used to refer to a FAD2 gene that isnaturally expressed in a specific manner in seed tissue, and the term“FAD2-2” is used to refer a FAD2 gene that is (a) a different gene froma FAD2-1 gene and (b) is naturally expressed in multiple tissues,including the seed. Representative FAD2 sequences include, withoutlimitation, those set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/176,149 filed on Jun. 21, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,067,722 and inSEQ ID NOs: 1-6.

A “FAD3”, “Δ15 desaturase” or “omega-3 desaturase” gene encodes anenzyme (FAD3) capable of catalyzing the insertion of a double bond intoa fatty acyl moiety at the fifteenth position counted from the carboxylterminus. The terms “FAD3-1, FAD3-A, FAD3-B and FAD3-C” are used torefer to FAD3 gene family members that are naturally expressed inmultiple tissues, including the seed. Representative FAD3 sequencesinclude, without limitation, those set forth in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/176,149 filed on Jun. 21, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,067,722,and in SEQ ID NOs: 7-27.

A “FATB” or “palmitoyl-ACP thioesterase” gene encodes an enzyme (FATB)capable of catalyzing the hydrolytic cleavage of the carbon-sulfurthioester bond in the panthothene prosthetic group of palmitoyl-ACP asits preferred reaction. Hydrolysis of other fatty acid-ACP thioestersmay also be catalyzed by this enzyme. Representative FATB-1 sequencesinclude, without limitation, those set forth in U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/390,185 filed on Jun. 21, 2002; U.S. Pat. Nos.5,955,329; 5,723,761; 5,955,650; and 6,331,664; and SEQ ID NOs: 28-37.Representative FATB-2 sequences include, without limitation, those setforth in SEQ ID NOs: 42-47.

C. Second Set of DNA Sequences

In an aspect of the present invention, a nucleic acid molecule comprisesa second set of DNA sequences, which when introduced into a cell ororganism, is capable of partially enhancing, increasing, enhancing, orsubstantially enhancing the levels of mRNA transcripts or proteinsencoded by one or more genes. In an aspect of the present invention, agene is an endogenous gene. In another aspect of the present invention,a gene can be a heterologous gene. In a preferred aspect, heterologousand endogenous genes can be on the same nucleic acid molecule. In anaspect of the present invention, a gene is a plant gene. In anotheraspect of the present invention, a gene is a truncated gene where thetruncated gene is capable of catalyzing the reaction catalyzed by thefull gene. In an aspect of the present invention, a gene is abeta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I gene, beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV gene,delta-9 desaturase gene, CP4 EPSPS gene, or a combination of thesegenes.

A gene of the present invention can be any gene, whether endogenous orintroduced. Nucleic acid sequences of such genes can be derived from amultitude of sources, including, without limitation, databases such asEMBL and Genbank which may be found on the Internet atebi.ac.uk/swisprot/; expasy.ch/; embl-heidelberg.de/; andncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Nucleic acid sequences of such genes can also bederived, without limitation, from sources such as the GENSCAN programwhich may be found on the Internet at genes.mit.edu/GENSCAN.html.

Additional genes may also be obtained by methods which include, withoutlimitation, screening a genomic library or a cDNA library with a probeof either known gene sequences, cloning a gene by alignment to a gene orprobe from another organism, such as, for example, Arabidopsis. Inaddition, other nucleic acid sequences of genes will be apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art. Additional genes may, for example withoutlimitation, be amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and used inan embodiment of the present invention. In addition, other nucleic acidsequences of genes will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Automated nucleic acid synthesizers may be employed for this purpose,and to make a nucleic acid molecule that has a sequence also found in acell or organism. In lieu of such synthesis, nucleic acid molecules maybe used to define a pair of primers that can be used with the PCR toamplify and obtain any desired nucleic acid molecule or fragment of afirst gene.

A “KAS I” or “beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I” gene encodes an enzyme KASI) capable of catalyzing the elongation of a fatty acyl moiety up topalmitoyl-ACP (C16:0). Representative KAS I sequences include, withoutlimitation, those set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,099 and PCTPublication WO 94/10189, and in SEQ ID NO: 38.

A “KAS IV” or “beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV” gene encodes an enzyme(KAS IV) capable of catalyzing the condensation of medium chainacyl-ACPs and enhancing the production of 18:0-ACP. Representative KASIV sequences include, without limitation, those set forth in PCTPublication WO 98/46776, and in SEQ ID NO: 39.

A “delta-9 desaturase” or “stearoyl-ACP desaturase” or “omega-9desaturase” gene encodes an enzyme capable of catalyzing the insertionof a double bond into a fatty acyl moiety at the ninth position countedfrom the carboxyl terminus. A preferred delta-9 desaturase of thepresent invention is a plant or cyanobacterial delta-9 desaturase, andmore preferably a delta-9 desaturase that is also found in an organismselected from the group consisting of Cartharmus tinctorius, Ricinuscommunis, Simmonsia chinensis, and Brassica campestris. Representativedelta-9 desaturase sequences include, without limitation, those setforth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,595, and SEQ ID NOs: 40-41.

A “CP4 EPSPS” or “CP4 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase” geneencodes an enzyme (CP4 EPSPS) capable of conferring a substantial degreeof glyphosate resistance upon the plant cell and plants generatedtherefrom. The CP4 EPSPS sequence may be a CP4 EPSPS sequence derivedfrom Agrobacterium tumefaciens sp. CP4 or a variant or synthetic formthereof, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435. Representative CP4EPSPS sequences include, without limitation, those set forth in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,627,061 and 5,633,435.

D. Recombinant Vectors and Constructs

One or more of the nucleic acid constructs of the invention may be usedin plant transformation or transfection. The levels of products such astranscripts or proteins may be increased or decreased throughout anorganism such as a plant or localized in one or more specific organs ortissues of the organism. For example the levels of products may beincreased or decreased in one or more of the tissues and organs of aplant including without limitation: roots, tubers, stems, leaves,stalks, fruit, berries, nuts, bark, pods, seeds and flowers. A preferredorgan is a seed. For example, exogenous genetic material may betransferred into a plant cell and the plant cell regenerated into awhole, fertile or sterile plant or plant part.

“Exogenous genetic material” is any genetic material, whether naturallyoccurring or otherwise, from any source that is capable of beinginserted into any organism. Such exogenous genetic material includes,without limitation, nucleic acid molecules and constructs of the presentinvention. Exogenous genetic material may be transferred into a hostcell by the use of a DNA vector or construct designed for such apurpose. Similarly, a virus can transfer exogenous genetic material intoa host cell. Exogenous genetic material may have a DNA sequenceidentical to the endogenous gene, but have been re-introduced to thehost cell by the use of a DNA vector or construct for the purpose ofsuppressing expression of the endogenous gene. Design of such a vectoris generally within the skill of the art (See, e.g., Plant MolecularBiology: A Laboratory Manual, Clark (ed.), Springer, New York (1997)).In a preferred embodiment, exogenous genetic material is recombinantDNA.

A construct or vector may include a promoter functional in a plant cell,or a plant promoter, to express a nucleic acid molecule of choice. Anumber of promoters that are active in plant cells have been describedin the literature, and the CaMV 35S and FMV promoters are preferred foruse in plants. Other examples of preferred promoters include beanarcelin and 7S alpha. Additional preferred promoters are enhanced orduplicated versions of the CaMV 35S and FMV 35S promoters. Odell et al.,Nature 313: 810-812 (1985); U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619. Additionalpromoters that may be utilized are described, for example, in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,378,619; 5,391,725; 5,428,147; 5,447,858; 5,608,144; 5,608,144;5,614,399; 5,633,441; 5,633,435; and 4,633,436. In addition, a tissuespecific enhancer may be used.

Particularly preferred promoters can also be used to express a nucleicacid molecule of the present invention in seeds or fruits. Indeed, in apreferred embodiment, the promoter used is a seed specific promoter.Examples of such promoters include the 5′ regulatory regions from suchgenes as napin (Kridl et al., Seed Sci. Res. 1:209-219 (1991)),phaseolin, stearoyl-ACP desaturase, 7Sα, 7sα (Chen et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci., 83:8560-8564 (1986)), USP, arcelin and oleosin. Preferredpromoters for expression in the seed are 7Sα, 7Sα′, napin, and FAD2-1Apromoters.

Constructs or vectors may also include other genetic elements, includingbut not limited to, 3′ transcriptional terminators, 3′ polyadenylationsignals, other untranslated nucleic acid sequences, transit or targetingsequences, selectable or screenable markers, promoters, enhancers, andoperators. Constructs or vectors may also contain a promoterless genethat may utilize an endogenous promoter upon insertion.

Nucleic acid molecules that may be used in plant transformation ortransfection may be any of the nucleic acid molecules of the presentinvention. It is not intended that the present invention be limited tothe illustrated embodiments. Exemplary nucleic acid molecules have beendescribed in Part A of the Detailed Description, and furthernon-limiting exemplary nucleic acid molecules are described below andillustrated in FIGS. 1-4, and in the Examples.

Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the nucleic acid moleculeof the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1-4. As described above, thenucleic acid molecule comprises (a) a first set of DNA sequences and (b)a second set of DNA sequences, which are located on one or more T-DNAregions, each of which is flanked by a right border and a left border.Within the T-DNA regions the direction of transcription is shown byarrows. The nucleic acid molecules described may have their DNAsequences arranged in monocistronic or polycistronic configurations.Preferred configurations include a configuration in which the first setof DNA sequences and the second set of DNA sequences are located on asingle T-DNA region.

In each of the illustrated embodiments, the first set of DNA sequencescomprises one or more sequences which when expressed are capable ofselectively reducing one, two or all of the proteins and transcriptsencoded by a gene selected from the group consisting of FAD2, FAD3, andFATB. Preferably each sequence in the first set of DNA sequences iscapable, when expressed, of suppressing the expression of a differentgene, including without limitation different gene family members. Thesequences may include coding sequences, intron sequences, 3′UTRsequences, 5′UTR sequences, other non-coding sequences, or anycombination of the foregoing. The first set of DNA sequences may beexpressed in any suitable form, including as a dsRNA construct, a sensecosuppression construct, or as an antisense construct. The first set ofDNA sequences is operably linked to at least one promoter which drivesexpression of the sequences, which can be any promoter functional in aplant, or any plant promoter. Preferred promoters include, but are notlimited to, a napin promoter, a 7Sα promoter, a 7Sα′ promoter, anarcelin promoter, or a FAD2-1A promoter.

The second set of DNA sequences comprises coding sequences, each ofwhich is a DNA sequence that encodes a sequence that when expressed iscapable of increasing one or both of the protein and transcript encodedby a gene selected from the group consisting of KAS I, KAS IV, delta-9desaturase, and CP4 EPSPS. Each coding sequence is associated with apromoter, which can be any promoter functional in a plant, or any plantpromoter. Preferred promoters for use in the second set of DNA sequencesare an FMV promoter and/or seed-specific promoters. Particularlypreferred seed-specific promoters include, but are not limited to, anapin promoter, a 7Sα promoter, a 7Sα′ promoter, an arcelin promoter, adelta-9 desaturase promoter, or a FAD2-1A promoter.

In the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first set of DNAsequences, when expressed, is capable of forming a dsRNA molecule thatis capable of suppressing the expression of one or both of the proteinand transcript encoded by, or transcribed from, a gene selected from thegroup consisting of FAD2, FAD3, and FATB. The first set of DNA sequencesdepicted in FIG. 1 comprises three non-coding sequences, each of whichexpresses an RNA sequence (not shown) that exhibits identity to anon-coding region of a gene selected from the group consisting of FAD2,FAD3, and FATB genes. The non-coding sequences each express an RNAsequence that exhibits at least 90% identity to a non-coding region of agene selected from the group consisting of FAD2, FAD3, and FATB genes.The first set of DNA sequences also comprises three antisense sequences,each of which expresses an antisense RNA sequence (not shown) that iscapable of forming a double-stranded RNA molecule with its respectivecorresponding RNA sequence (as expressed by the non-coding sequences).

The non-coding sequences may be separated from the antisense sequencesby a spacer sequence, preferably one that promotes the formation of adsRNA molecule. Examples of such spacer sequences include those setforth in Wesley et al., Plant J, 27(6):581-90 (2001), and Hamilton etal., Plant J, 15:737-746 (1988). In a preferred aspect, the spacersequence is capable of forming a hairpin structure as illustrated inWesley et al., supra. Particularly preferred spacer sequences in thiscontext are plant introns or parts thereof. A particularly preferredplant intron is a spliceable intron. Spliceable introns include, but arenot limited to, an intron selected from the group consisting of PDKintron, FAD3-1A or FAD3-1B intron #5, FAD3 intron #1, FAD3 intron #3A,FAD3 intron #3B, FAD3 intron #3C, FAD3 intron #4, FAD3 intron #5, FAD2intron #1, and FAD2-2 intron. Preferred spliceable introns include, butare not limited to, an intron selected from the group consisting of FAD3intron #1, FAD3 intron #3A, FAD3 intron #3B, FAD3 intron #3C, and FAD3intron #5. Other preferred spliceable introns include, but are notlimited to, a spliceable intron that is about 0.75 kb to about 1.1 kb inlength and is capable of facilitating an RNA hairpin structure. Onenon-limiting example of a particularly preferred spliceable intron isFAD3 intron #5.

The sense-oriented, non-coding molecules may be optionally separatedfrom the corresponding antisense-oriented molecules by a spacer segmentof DNA. The spacer segment can be a gene fragment or artificial DNA. Thespacer segment can be short to facilitate forming hairpin dsRNA or longto facilitate dsRNA without a hairpin structure. The spacer can beprovided by extending the length of one of the sense or antisensemolecules as disclosed in US 2005/0176670 A1. Alternatively, aright-border-right-border (“RB-RB”) sequence can be created afterinsertion into the plant genome as disclosed in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication 2005/0183170.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the nucleic acid molecule comprises two T-DNAregions, each of which is flanked by a right border and a left border.The first T-DNA region comprises the first set of DNA sequences that isoperably linked to a promoter, and the first T-DNA region furthercomprises a first part of the second set of DNA sequences that comprisesa first promoter operably linked to a first coding sequence, and asecond promoter operably linked to a second coding sequence. The secondT-DNA region comprises a second part of the second set of DNA sequencesthat comprises a third promoter operably linked to a third codingsequence. In a preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the nucleic acidmolecule comprises a single T-DNA region, which is flanked by a rightborder and a left border. The first and second sets of DNA sequences areall located on the single T-DNA region.

In the dsRNA-expressing embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the order ofthe sequences may be altered from that illustrated and described,however the non-coding sequences and the antisense sequences preferablyare arranged around the spacer sequence such that, when expressed, thefirst non-coding sequence can hybridize to the first antisense sequence,the second non-coding sequence can hybridize to the second antisensesequence, and the third non-coding sequence can hybridize to the thirdantisense sequence such that a single dsRNA molecule can be formed.Preferably the non-coding sequences are in a sense orientation, and theantisense sequences are in an antisense orientation relative to thepromoter. The numbers of non-coding, antisense, and coding sequences,and the various relative positions thereof on the T-DNA region(s) mayalso be altered in any manner suitable for achieving the goals of thepresent invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the illustrated nucleic acid moleculecomprises a T-DNA region flanked by a right border and a left border, onwhich are located the first and second sets of DNA sequences. The firstset of DNA sequences is operably linked to a promoter and atranscriptional termination signal. The second set of DNA sequences thatcomprises a first promoter operably linked to a first coding sequence, asecond promoter operably linked to a second coding sequence, and a thirdpromoter operably linked to a third coding sequence. The transcriptionaltermination signal can be any transcriptional termination signalfunctional in a plant, or any plant transcriptional termination signal.Preferred transcriptional termination signals include, but are notlimited to, a pea Rubisco E9 3′ sequence, a Brassica napin 3′ sequence,a tml 3′ sequence, and a nos 3′ sequence.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the first set of DNA sequences,when expressed, is capable of forming a sense cosuppression constructthat is capable of suppressing the expression of one or more proteins ortranscripts encoded by, or derived from, a gene selected from the groupconsisting of FAD2, FAD3, and FATB. The first set of DNA sequencescomprises three non-coding sequences, each of which expresses an RNAsequence (not shown) that exhibits sufficient identity to one or morenon-coding region(s) of a gene selected from the group consisting ofFAD2, FAD3, and FATB genes. The non-coding sequences each express an RNAsequence that exhibits at least 90% identity to one or more non-codingregion(s) of a gene selected from the group consisting of FAD2, FAD3,and FATB genes. The order of the non-coding sequences within the firstset of DNA sequences may be altered from that illustrated and describedherein, but the non-coding sequences are arranged in a sense orientationrelative to the promoter.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment in which the first set of DNA sequences,when expressed, is capable of forming an antisense construct that iscapable of suppressing the expression of one or more proteins ortranscripts encoded by, or derived from, a gene selected from the groupconsisting of FAD2, FAD3, and FATB. The first set of DNA sequencescomprises three antisense sequences, each of which expresses anantisense RNA sequence (not shown) that exhibits identity to one or morenon-coding region(s) of a gene selected from the group consisting ofFAD2, FAD3, and FATB genes. The antisense sequences each express anantisense RNA sequence that exhibits at least 90% identity to one ormore non-coding region(s) of a gene selected from the group consistingof FAD2, FAD3, and FATB genes. The order of the antisense sequenceswithin the first set of DNA sequences may be altered from thatillustrated and described herein, but the antisense sequences arearranged in an antisense orientation relative to the promoter.

The above-described nucleic acid molecules are preferred embodimentswhich achieve the objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention. It is not intended that the present invention be limited tothe illustrated embodiments. The arrangement of the sequences in thefirst and second sets of DNA sequences within the nucleic acid moleculeis not limited to the illustrated and described arrangements, and may bealtered in any manner suitable for achieving the objects, features andadvantages of the present invention as described herein and illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

E. Transzenic Organisms and Methods for Producing Same

Any of the nucleic acid molecules and constructs of the invention may beintroduced into a plant or plant cell in a permanent or transientmanner. Preferred nucleic acid molecules and constructs of the presentinvention are described above in Parts A through D of the DetailedDescription, and in the Examples. Another embodiment of the invention isdirected to a method of producing transgenic plants which generallycomprises the steps of selecting a suitable plant or plant cell,transforming the plant or plant cell with a recombinant vector, andobtaining a transformed host cell.

In a preferred embodiment the plant or cell is, or is derived from, aplant involved in the production of vegetable oils for edible andindustrial uses. Especially preferred are temperate oilseed crops.Plants of interest include, but are not limited to, rapeseed (canola andHigh Erucic Acid varieties), maize, soybean, crambe, mustard, castorbean, peanut, sesame, cotton, linseed, safflower, oil palm, flax,sunflower, and coconut. The invention is applicable to monocotyledonousor dicotyledonous species alike, and will be readily applicable to newand/or improved transformation and regulatory techniques.

Methods and technology for introduction of DNA into plant cells are wellknown to those of skill in the art, and virtually any method by whichnucleic acid molecules may be introduced into a cell is suitable for usein the present invention. Non-limiting examples of suitable methodsinclude: chemical methods; physical methods such as microinjection,electroporation, the gene gun, microprojectile bombardment, and vacuuminfiltration; viral vectors; and receptor-mediated mechanisms. Othermethods of cell transformation can also be used and include but are notlimited to introduction of DNA into plants by direct DNA transfer intopollen, by direct injection of DNA into reproductive organs of a plant,or by direct injection of DNA into the cells of immature embryosfollowed by the rehydration of desiccated embryos.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is a widely applicable system forintroducing genes into plant cells. See, e.g., Fraley et al.,Bio/Technology 3:629-635 (1985); Rogers et al., Methods Enzymol.153:253-277 (1987). The region of DNA to be transferred is defined bythe border sequences and intervening DNA is usually inserted into theplant genome. Spielmann et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 205:34 (1986). ModemAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations.Klee et al., In: Plant DNA Infectious Agents, Hohn and Schell (eds.),Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 179-203 (1985).

The regeneration, development and cultivation of plants from singleplant protoplast transformants or from various transformed explants iswell known in the art. See generally, Maliga et al., Methods in PlantMolecular Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Press (1995); Weissbach andWeissbach, In: Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, Academic Press, SanDiego, Calif. (1988). Plants of the present invention can be part of orgenerated from a breeding program, and may also be reproduced usingapomixis. Methods for the production of apomictic plants are known inthe art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,636.

In a preferred embodiment, a plant of the present invention thatincludes nucleic acid sequences which when expressed are capable ofselectively reducing the level of a FAD2, FAD3, and/or FATB protein,and/or a FAD2, FAD3, and/or FATB transcript is crossed with anotherplant of the present invention that includes nucleic acid sequenceswhich when expressed are capable of overexpressing another enzyme.Preferably the other enzyme is selected from the group consisting ofbeta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I, beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV, delta-9desaturase, and CP4 EPSPS.

In another aspect, a plant of the present invention can be crossed withanother plant that is transgenic or non-transgenic. A plant of thepresent invention can be crossed with another plant that has an oilcomposition containing modified levels of fatty acids, for examplewithout limitation, a variety with an oil composition having a lowerlevel of linolenic acid. In a preferred embodiment, a plant of thepresent invention is crossed with a variety with less than 3% by weightlinolenic acid, or in another embodiment, a plant of the presentinvention is crossed with another plant having greater than 20% byweight stearic acid. Such plants having modified levels of fatty acidsare known in the art and described, for example, in Hawkins and Kridl(1998) Plant Journal 13(6):743-752 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,802.

F. Products of the Present Invention

The plants of the present invention may be used in whole or in part.Preferred plant parts include reproductive or storage parts. The term“plant parts” as used herein includes, without limitation, seed,endosperm, ovule, pollen, roots, tubers, stems, leaves, stalks, fruit,berries, nuts, bark, pods, seeds and flowers. In a particularlypreferred embodiment of the present invention, the plant part is a seed.

Any of the plants or parts thereof of the present invention may beprocessed to produce a feed, meal, protein, or oil preparation. In apreferred embodiment of the present invention can be a plant of thepresent invention having an oil with a fatty acid composition of thepresent invention. A particularly preferred plant part for this purposeis a seed. In a preferred embodiment the feed, meal, protein or oilpreparation is designed for livestock animals, fish or humans, or anycombination. Methods to produce feed, meal, protein and oil preparationsare known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,957,748, 5,100,679,5,219,596, 5,936,069, 6,005,076, 6,146,669, and 6,156,227. In apreferred embodiment, the protein preparation is a high proteinpreparation. Such a high protein preparation preferably has a proteincontent of greater than 5% w/v, more preferably 10% w/v, and even morepreferably 15% w/v.

In a preferred oil preparation, the oil preparation is a high oilpreparation with an oil content derived from a plant or part thereof ofthe present invention of greater than 5% w/v, more preferably 10% w/v,and even more preferably 15% w/v. In a preferred embodiment the oilpreparation is a liquid and of a volume greater than 1, 5, 10 or 50liters. The present invention provides for oil produced from plants ofthe present invention or generated by a method of the present invention.Such an oil may exhibit enhanced oxidative stability. Also, such oil maybe a minor or major component of any resultant product.

Moreover, such oil may be blended with other oils. In a preferredembodiment, the oil produced from plants of the present invention orgenerated by a method of the present invention constitutes greater than0.5%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 90% by volume or weight of the oilcomponent of any product. In another embodiment, the oil preparation maybe blended and can constitute greater than 10%, 25%, 35%, 50% or 75% ofthe blend by volume. Oil produced from a plant of the present inventioncan be admixed with one or more organic solvents or petroleumdistillates.

Seeds of the plants may be placed in a container. As used herein, acontainer is any object capable of holding such seeds. A containerpreferably contains greater than about 500, 1,000, 5,000, or 25,000seeds where at least about 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the seeds arederived from a plant of the present invention. The present inventionalso provides a container of over about 10,000, more preferably about20,000, and even more preferably about 40,000 seeds where over about10%, more preferably about 25%, more preferably 50% and even morepreferably about 75% or 90% of the seeds are seeds derived from a plantof the present invention. The present invention also provides acontainer of over about 10 kg, more preferably about 25 kg, and evenmore preferably about 50 kg seeds where over about 10%, more preferablyabout 25%, more preferably about 50% and even more preferably about 75%or 90% of the seeds are seeds derived from a plant of the presentinvention.

G. Oil Compositions

For many oil applications, saturated fatty acid levels are preferablyless than 8% by weight, and more preferably about 2-3% by weight.Saturated fatty acids have high melting points which are undesirable inmany applications. When used as a feedstock or fuel, saturated fattyacids cause clouding at low temperatures, and confer poor cold flowproperties such as pour points and cold filter plugging points to thefuel. Oil products containing low saturated fatty acid levels may bepreferred by consumers and the food industry because they are perceivedas healthier and/or may be labeled as “saturated fat free” in accordancewith FDA guidelines. In addition, low saturate oils reduce or eliminatethe need to winterize the oil for food applications such as salad oils.In biodiesel and lubricant applications oils with low saturated fattyacid levels confer improved cold flow properties and do not cloud at lowtemperatures.

The factors governing the physical properties of a particular oil arecomplex. Palmitic, stearic and other saturated fatty acids are typicallysolid at room temperature, in contrast to the unsaturated fatty acids,which remain liquid. Because saturated fatty acids have no double bondsin the acyl chain, they remain stable to oxidation at elevatedtemperatures. Saturated fatty acids are important components inmargarines and chocolate formulations, but for many food applications,reduced levels of saturated fatty acids are desired.

Oleic acid has one double bond, but is still relatively stable at hightemperatures, and oils with high levels of oleic acid are suitable forcooking and other processes where heating is required. Recently,increased consumption of high oleic oils has been recommended, becauseoleic acid appears to lower blood levels of low density lipoproteins(“LDLs”) without affecting levels of high density lipoproteins (“HDLs”).However, some limitation of oleic acid levels is desirable, because whenoleic acid is degraded at high temperatures, it creates negative flavorcompounds and diminishes the positive flavors created by the oxidationof linoleic acid. Neff et al., JAOCS, 77 :1303-1313 (2000); Warner etal., J. Agric. Food Chem. 49:899-905 (2001). Preferred oils have oleicacid levels that are 65-85% or less by weight, in order to limitoff-flavors in food applications such as frying oil and fried food.Other preferred oils have oleic acid levels that are greater than 55% byweight in order to improve oxidative stability.

Linoleic acid is a major polyunsaturated fatty acid in foods and is anessential nutrient for humans. It is a desirable component for many foodapplications because it is a major precursor of fried food flavorsubstances such as 2,4 decadienal, which make fried foods taste good.However, linoleic acid has limited stability when heated. Preferred foodoils have linoleic acid levels that are 10% or greater by weight, toenhance the formation of desirable fried food flavor substances, andalso are 25% or less by weight, so that the formation of off-flavors isreduced. Linoleic acid also has cholesterol-lowering properties,although dietary excess can reduce the ability of human cells to protectthemselves from oxidative damage, thereby increasing the risk ofcardiovascular disease. Toborek et al., Am J. Clin. J. 75:119-125(2002). See generally Flavor Chemistry of Lipid Foods, editors D. B. Min& T. H. Smouse, Am Oil Chem. Soc., Champaign, Ill. (1989).

Linoleic acid, having a lower melting point than oleic acid, furthercontributes to improved cold flow properties desirable in biodiesel andbiolubricant applications. Preferred oils for most applications havelinoleic acid levels of 30% or less by weight, because the oxidation oflinoleic acid limits the useful storage or use-time of frying oil, food,feed, fuel and lubricant products. See generally, Physical Properties ofFats, Oils, and Emulsifiers, ed. N. Widlak, AOCS Press (1999); Erhan &Asadauskas, Lubricant Basestocks from Vegetable Oils, Industrial Cropsand Products, 11:277-282 (2000). In addition, high linoleic acid levelsin cattle feed can lead to undesirably high levels of linoleic acid inthe milk of dairy cattle, and therefore poor oxidative stability andflavor. Timmons et al., J. Dairy Sci. 84:2440-2449 (2001). A broadlyuseful oil composition has linoleic acid levels of 10-25% by weight.

Linolenic acid is also an important component of the human diet. It isused to synthesize the ω-3 family of long-chain fatty acids and theprostaglandins derived therefrom. However, its double bonds are highlysusceptible to oxidation, so that oils with high levels of linolenicacid deteriorate rapidly on exposure to air, especially at hightemperatures. Partial hydrogenation of such oils is often necessarybefore they can be used in food products to retard the formation ofoff-flavors and rancidity when the oil is heated, but hydrogenationcreates unhealthy trans fatty acids which can contribute tocardiovascular disease. To achieve improved oxidative stability, andreduce the need to hydrogenate oil, preferred oils have linolenic acidlevels that are 8% or less by weight, 6% or less, 4% or less, less thanabout 3%, and more preferably 0.5-2% by weight of the total fatty acidsin the oil of the present invention.

Oil from soybean of the present invention can also be used as a blendingsource to make a blended oil product. By a blending source, it is meantthat the oil from a soybean of the present invention can be mixed withother vegetable oils to improve the characteristics, such as fatty acidcomposition, flavor, and oxidative stability, of the other oils. Theamount of oil from a soybean of the present invention which can be usedwill depend upon the desired properties sought to be achieved in theresulting final blended oil product. Examples of blended oil productsinclude, but are not limited to, margarines, shortenings, frying oils,salad oils, etc. The oil from a soybean of the present invention can bea blended oil, synthesized oil or in a preferred embodiment an oilgenerated from an oilseed having an appropriate oil composition. An oilgenerated directly from an oilseed is a non-blended oil. In anotheraspect, an oil is directly from a mature oilseed. In this aspect, amature seed as defined by a seed that is harvested in the field forcommercial agricultural practices, such as sale for feed. In a preferredembodiment, the oil is a soybean oil. The oil can be a crude oil such ascrude soybean oil, or can be a processed oil, for example the oil can berefined, bleached, deodorized, and/or winterized. As used herein,“refining” refers to a process of treating natural or processed fat oroil to remove impurities, and may be accomplished by treating fat or oilwith caustic soda, followed by centrifugation, washing with water, andheating under vacuum. “Bleaching” refers to a process of treating a fator oil to remove or reduce the levels of coloring materials in the fator oil. Bleaching may be accomplished by treating fat or oil withactivated charcoal or Fullers (diatomaceous) earth. “Deodorizing” refersto a process of removing components from a fat or oil that contributeobjectionable flavors or odors to the end product, and may beaccomplished by use of high vacuum and superheated steam washing.“Winterizing” refers to a process of removing saturated glycerides froman oil, and may be accomplished by chilling and removal of solidifiedportions of fat from an oil.

A preferred oil of the present invention has a low saturate oilcomposition, or a zero saturate oil composition. In other preferredembodiments, oils of the present invention have increased oleic acidlevels, reduced saturated fatty acid levels, and reduced polyunsaturatedfatty acid levels. In further preferred embodiments, oils of the presentinvention have increased oleic acid levels and reduced saturated fattyacid levels. In a preferred embodiment, the oil is a soybean oil. Thepercentages of fatty acid content, or fatty acid levels, used hereinrefer to percentages by weight.

In a first embodiment, an oil of the present invention preferably has anoil composition that is 55 to 80% oleic acid, about 12 to 43%polyunsaturates, and 2 to 8% saturated fatty acids; more preferably hasan oil composition that is 55 to 80% oleic acid, about 14 to 42%polyunsaturates, and 3 to 6% saturated fatty acids; and even morepreferably has an oil composition that is 55 to 80% oleic acid, about16.5 to 43% polyunsaturates, and 2 to 3.6% saturated fatty acids.

In a second embodiment, an oil of the present invention preferably hasan oil composition that is 65 to 80% oleic acid, about 12 to 33%polyunsaturates, and 2 to 8% saturated fatty acids; more preferably hasan oil composition that is 65 to 80% oleic acid, about 14 to 32%polyunsaturates, and 3 to 6% saturated fatty acids; and even morepreferably has an oil composition that is 65 to 80% oleic acid, about16.5 to 33% polyunsaturates, and 2 to 3.6% saturated fatty acids.

In a third embodiment, an oil of the present invention preferably has anoil composition that is about 42 to about 85% oleic acid and about 8% toabout 1.5% saturated fatty acids; more preferably the oil compositionfurther has a combined amount of oleic acid and linolenic acid equalingabout 65% to about 95% by weight of the total oil composition. Even morepreferably the oil composition of the present invention has a combinedamount of oleic acid and linolenic acid equaling about 75% to about 90%,about 75% to about 95%, about 75% to about 85%, about 65% to about 90%,about 70% to about 90% by weight of the total oil composition.

In a fourth embodiment, an oil of the present invention has an oilcomposition that is about 42 to about 85% oleic acid, about 8% to about1.5% saturated fatty acids, about 6% to about 15% by weight linolenicacid; more preferably has an oil composition that is about 42 to about85% oleic acid, about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids, less than35% by weight linolenic acid; and even more preferably has an oilcomposition that is about 42 to about 85% oleic acid, about 8% to about1.5% saturated fatty acids, about 9% by weight linolenic acid.

In a fifth embodiment, an oil of the present invention has an oilcomposition that is about 50% to about 85% oleic acid and about 8% toabout 1.5% saturated fatty acids; more preferably about 50% to about 85%oleic acid, about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids, about 4% toabout 14% by weight linolenic acid; more preferably has an oilcomposition that is about 50% to about 85% oleic acid, about 8% to about1.5% saturated fatty acids, less than 35% by weight linolenic acid; andeven more preferably has an oil composition that is about 42 to about85% oleic acid, about 8% to about 1.5% saturated fatty acids, about 2%to about 45% by weight linolenic acid.

In another embodiment, an oil of the present invention has an oilcomposition that is about 65-80% oleic acid, about 3-8% saturates, andabout 12-32% polyunsaturates. In another embodiment, an oil of thepresent invention has an oil composition that is about 65-80% oleicacid, about 2-3.5% saturates, and about 16.5-33% polyunsaturates.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, an oil of the present inventionhas an oil composition that is about 47-83% oleic acid and about 5%saturates; about 60-80% oleic acid and about 5% saturates; about 50-85%oleic and about 2-7% saturates; about 55-85% oleic acid and about 2.5-7%saturates; about 47-88% oleic acid and about 3-7% saturates; about43-85% oleic acid and about 5-7% saturates; about 81-85% oleic acid andabout 5% saturates; about 74-83% oleic acid and about 6% saturates;about 65-87% oleic acid and about 6% saturates; about 66-80% oleic acidand about 6% saturates; about 42-77% oleic acid and about 5-8%saturates; about 60-77% oleic acid and about 6% saturates; about 70-81%oleic acid and about 5-7% saturates; about 52-71% oleic acid and about5-7% saturates; about 44-71% oleic acid and about 6% saturates; about61-71% oleic acid and about 8% saturates; about 57-71% oleic acid andabout 7% saturates; about 23-58% oleic acid and about 8-14% saturates;about 20-70% oleic acid and about 6% saturates; about 21-35% oleic acidand about 5-6% saturates; or about 19-28% oleic acid and about 5%saturates.

In other embodiments, the percentage of oleic acid is 50% or greater;55% or greater; 60% or greater; 65% or greater; 70% or greater; 75% orgreater; or 80% or greater; or is a range from 50 to 80%; 55 to 80%; 55to 75%; 55 to 65%; 60 to 85%; 60 to 80%; 60 to 70%; 65 to 85%; 65 to80%; 65 to 75%; 65 to 70%; or 69 to 73%. Suitable percentage ranges foroleic acid content in oils of the present invention also include rangesin which the lower limit is selected from the following percentages: 50,51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68,69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, or 80 percent; and the upperlimit is selected from the following percentages: 60, 61, 62, 63, 64,65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82,83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, or 90 percent.

In these other embodiments, the percentage of linoleic acid in an oil ofthe present invention is a range from 10 to 40%; 10 to 39%; 10 to 30%;10 to 29%; 10 to 28%; 10 to 25%; 10 to 21%; 10 to 20%; 11 to 30%; 12 to30%; 15 to 25%; 20 to 25%; 20 to 30%; or 21 to 24%. Suitable percentageranges for linoleic acid content in oils of the present invention alsoinclude ranges in which the lower limit is selected from the followingpercentages: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 percent; and the upper limit is selected fromthe following percentages: 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 percent.

In these other embodiments, the percentage of linolenic acid in an oilof the present invention is 10% or less; 9% or less; 8% or less; 7% orless; 6% or less; 5% or less; 4.5% or less; 4% or less; 3.5% or less; 3%or less; 3.0% or less; 2.5% or less; or 2% or less; or is a range from0.5 to 2%; 0.5 to 3%; 0.5 to 4.5%; 0.5% to 6%; 3 to 5%; 3 to 6%; 3 to8%; 1 to 2%; 1 to 3%; or 1 to 4%. In these other embodiments, thepercentage of saturated fatty acids in an oil composition ofthe presentinvention is 15% or less; 14% or less; 13% or less; 12% or less, 11% orless; 10% or less; 9% or less; 8% or less; 7% or less; 6% or less; 5% orless; 4% or less; or 3.6% or less; or is a range from 2 to 3%; 2 to3.6%; 2 to 4%; 2 to 8%; 3 to 15%; 3 to 10%; 3 to 8%; 3 to 6%; 3.6 to 7%;5 to 8%; 7 to 10%; or 10 to 15%.

In other embodiments, saturated fatty acids in an oil of the presentinvention includes the combination of the palmitic and stearic fattyacids. In an embodiment, the percentage of saturated fatty acids rangesfrom about 10% or less; about 9% or less; about 8% or less; about 7% orless; about 6% or less; about 5% or less; about 4.5% or less; about 4%or less; about 3.5% or less; about 3% or less; about 3.0% or less; about2.5% or less; or about 2% or less; or is a range from 0.5 to 2%; 0.5 to3%; 0.5 to 4.5%; 0.5 to 6%; 0.5 to 7%; 0.5 to 8%; 0.5 to 9%; 1 to 4%; 1to 5%; 1 to 6%; 1 to 7%; 1 to 8%; 1 to 9%; 1.5 to 5%; 1.5 to 6%; 1.5 to7%; 1.5 to 8%; 1.5 to 9%; 2 to 5%; 2 to 6%; 2 to 7%; 2 to 8%; 2 to 9%; 3to 5%; 3 to 6%; 3 to 7%; 3 to 8%; 3 to 9%; 4 to 7%; 4 to 8%; 4 to 9%; 5to 7%; 5 to 8%; and 5 to 9%. In these embodiments, suitable percentageranges for saturated fatty acid content in oils of the present inventionalso include ranges in which the lower limit is selected from thefollowing percentages: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2., 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6,or 6.5 percent; and the upper limit is selected from the followingpercentages: 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, or0.5 percent.

In other embodiments, the percentage of palmitic fatty acid in an oilcomposition of the present invention ranges from 6% or less; 5% or less;4.5% or less; 4% or less; 3.5% or less; 3% or less; 3.0% or less; 2.5%or less; or 2% or less; or is a range from 0.5 to 2%; 0.5 to 3%; 0.5 to4.5%; 0.5 to 6%; 1 to 3%; 1 to 4%; 1 to 5%; 1 to 6%; 1.5 to 2%; 1.5 to3%; 1.5 to 3%; 1.5 to 4.5%; 1.5 to 5%; 1.5 to 5.5%; 1.5 to 6%; 1.5 to6.5%; 1.5 to 7%; 2 to 3%; 2 to 3.5%; 2 to 4%; 2 to 4.5%; 2 to 5%; 2 to6%; 2 to 7%; 2 to 8%; 3 to 5%; 3 to 6%; 3 to 7%; 3 to 8%; 3 to 9%. Inthese embodiments, suitable percentage ranges for linoleic acid contentin oils of the present invention also include ranges in which the lowerlimit is selected from the following percentages: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2., 2.5,3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7 or 7.5 percent; and the upper limit isselected from the following percentages: 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4.5, 4,3.5, 3, or 2 percent.

In other embodiments, the percentage of stearic fatty acid in an oilcomposition of the present invention is ranges from 3% or less; 3.0% orless; 2.5% or less; or 2% or less; or is a range from 0.5 to 1%; 0.5 to1.5%; 0.5 to 2%; 0.5 to 2.5%; 0.5 to 3%; 0.5 to 4%; 1 to 2%; 1 to 3%; 1to 4%; 1.5 to 2%; 1.5 to 3%; or 1.5 to 4%. In these embodiments,suitable percentage ranges for linoleic acid content in oils of thepresent invention also include ranges in which the lower limit isselected from the following percentages: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2., 2.5, 3, or 3.5percent; and the upper limit is selected from the following percentages:3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, or 1.5 percent.

An oil of the present invention is particularly suited to use as acooking or frying oil. Because of its reduced polyunsaturated fatty acidcontent, the oil of the present invention does not require the extensiveprocessing of typical oils because fewer objectionable odorous andcolorant compounds are present. In addition, the low saturated fattyacid content of the present oil improves the cold flow properties of theoil, and obviates the need to heat stored oil to prevent it fromcrystallizing or solidifying. Improved cold flow also enhances drainageof oil from fried food material once it has been removed from fryingoil, thereby resulting in a lower fat product. See Bouchon et al., J.Food Science 66: 918-923 (2001). The low levels of linolenic acid in thepresent oil are particularly advantageous in frying to reduceoff-flavors.

The present oil is also well-suited for use as a salad oil (an oil thatmaintains clarity at refrigerator temperatures of 40-50 degreesFahrenheit). Its improved clarity at refrigerator temperatures, due toits low saturated fatty acid and moderate linoleic acid content, reducesor eliminates the need to winterize the oil before use as a salad oil.

In addition, the moderate linoleic and low linolenic acid content of thepresent oil make it well-suited for the production of shortening,margarine and other semi-solid vegetable fats used in foodstuffs.Production of these fats typically involves hydrogenation of unsaturatedoils such as soybean oil, corn oil, or canola oil. The increasedoxidative and flavor stability of the present oil mean that it need notbe hydrogenated to the extent that typical vegetable oil is for usessuch as margarine and shortening, thereby reducing processing costs andthe production of unhealthy trans isomers.

An oil of the present invention is also suitable for use as a feedstockto produce biodiesel, particularly because biodiesel made from such anoil has improved cold flow, improved ignition quality (cetane number),improved oxidative stability, and reduced nitric oxide emissions.Biodiesel is an alternative diesel fuel typically comprised of methylesters of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated C₁₆-C₂₂ fattyacids. Cetane number is a measure of ignition quality—the shorter theignition delay time of fuel in the engine, the higher the cetane number.The ASTM standard specification for biodiesel fuel (D 6751-02) requiresa minimum cetane number of 47.

The use of biodiesel in conventional diesel engines results insubstantial reductions of pollutants such as sulfates, carbon monoxide,and particulates compared to petroleum diesel fuel, and use in schoolbuses can greatly reduce children's exposure to toxic diesel exhaust. Alimitation to the use of 100% conventional biodiesel as fuel is the highcloud point of conventional soy biodiesel (2 degrees C.) compared tonumber 2 diesel (−16 degrees C.). Dunn et al., Recent. Res. Devel. inOil Chem., 1:31-56 (1997). Biodiesel made from oil of the presentinvention has an improved (reduced) cloud point and cold filter pluggingpoint, and may also be used in blends to improve the cold-temperatureproperties of biodiesel made from inexpensive but highly saturatedsources of fat such as animal fats (tallow, lard, chicken fat) and palmoil. Biodiesel can also be blended with petroleum diesel at any level.

Biodiesel is typically obtained by extracting, filtering and refiningsoybean oil to remove free fats and phospholipids, and thentransesterifying the oil with methanol to form methyl esters of thefatty acids. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,203. The resultant soymethyl esters are commonly referred to as “biodiesel.” The oil of thepresent invention may also be used as a diesel fuel without theformation of methyl esters, such as, for example, by mixing acetals withthe oil. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,114. Due to its improved coldflow and oxidative stability properties, the oil of the presentinvention is also useful as a lubricant, and as a diesel fuel additive.See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,888,947, 5,454,842 and 4,557,734.

Soybeans and oils of the present invention are also suitable for use ina variety of soyfoods made from whole soybeans, such as soymilk, soy nutbutter, natto, and tempeh, and soyfoods made from processed soybeans andsoybean oil, including soybean meal, soy flour, soy protein concentrate,soy protein isolates, texturized soy protein concentrate, hydrolyzed soyprotein, whipped topping, cooking oil, salad oil, shortening, andlecithin. Whole soybeans are also edible, and are typically sold toconsumers raw, roasted, or as edamame. Soymilk, which is typicallyproduced by soaking and grinding whole soybeans, may be consumed as is,spray-dried, or processed to form soy yogurt, soy cheese, tofu, or yuba.The present soybean or oil may be advantageously used in these and othersoyfoods because of its improved oxidative stability, the reduction ofoff-flavor precursors, and its low saturated fatty acid level.

G. Modulation of Suppression

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method ofmodulating gene suppression levels. Modulation of gene suppression canresult in more or less gene suppression. Suppression of a gene productcan be the result from insertion of a construct of the present inventioninto a plant genome. Similarly, modulation of gene suppression can bethe result from insertion of a construct of the present invention into aplant genome. Other examples of methods to modulate gene suppressioninclude, without limitation, antisense techniques, cosuppression, RNAinterference (dsRNAi), transgenic animals, hybrids, and ribozymes usinga construct of the present invention. The following examples areprovided by way of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting ofthe present invention.

Suppression of a gene can be modulated by altering the length of thetranscribable DNA used for suppression, which sequence is derived fromthe gene targeted for suppression. Many methods can be used forsuppressing a gene using post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanisms.Without being limited to the theory, these methods are believed to havein common the expression of an RNA molecule which hybridizes to anotherRNA molecule. Surprisingly, there can be advantages to using a RNAmolecule of particular lengths to modulate or moderate suppression ofthe steady state expression levels of a targeted endogenous gene.

Gene suppression of FAD2-1 leads to elevated levels of oleic acid andreduction of linoleic acid levels. When FAD2-1 is heavily suppressed,levels of oleic acid can be greater than 65%, which causes a reductionin palmitic acid and linolenic acid levels. For example, when FAD2-1 issuppressed, oleic acid levels can reach 85% and the combined palmiticand stearic acid levels are reduced to about 10%. Similarly,downregulation of FATB results in decreased levels of saturated fattyacids, primarily palmitate. When FAD2 and FATB are suppressed so thatoleic levels are about 85%, saturate levels are about 10%. When FAD2 andFATB are suppressed so that oleic levels are greater than 85%, saturatelevels can fall below 10%.

In light of the present invention, saturate levels can be reduced toless than 10% without enhancing oleic acids above 85%. In oneembodiment, the suppression of FAD2 is modulated by reducing the lengthof FAD2-1 intron introduced into the plant. Less suppression of FAD2results in moderate levels of oleic acid, approximately 40-85% oleicacid. The suppression of FAD2 is reduced as the length of the FAD2-1intron fragment introduced is reduced. For example, a FAD2-1 intronreduced in length by at least 100 contiguous nucleotides can reduce thesuppression of FAD2 and the corresponding increase in oleic acid anddecrease in linoleic acid levels.

The relationship between the decrease in endogenous gene suppression andthe decrease in length of homologous DNA can be determined empiricallyby introducing different lengths of DNA. For example, the amount ofreduction in suppression obtainable by reducing the length of homologousintroduced DNA can be determined by deleting increasing portions of thehomologous DNA being introduced and assaying for expression of thetargeted gene.

Included in the present invention is a method for moderating suppressionof FAD2 while still having a strong reduction of saturate levels in aplant. In such plants, oleic acid levels can range from 40-85%.Similarly, less than full suppression of FATB occurs when the combined3′ and 5′ untranslated regions are introduced as compared to when thefull-length FATB gene is introduced into a host cell. In a like manner,suppression levels of FATB are reduced when the 5′ part of the openreading frame, which mostly encodes the chloroplast transit peptide, isintroduced into a host cell. In cells with FAD2 and FATB suppressedusing methods according to the present invention, oleic acid levels canbe 40-85% while saturate levels can be between 1 to 9 percent.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method ofmodulating gene suppression to reduce suppression relative to thesuppression from a entire gene element, where a entire gene element canbe an entire gene, an entire exon, an entire intron, an entire signalsequence, or an entire UTR, then constructing a recombinant nucleic acidmolecule comprising a fragment of the endogenous sequence from the geneelement; initiating expression of the recombinant nucleic acid moleculein a host cell; and suppressing the endogenous gene with the recombinantnucleic acid molecule. The gene being suppressed can be any gene,including FAD2 and FATB. In one embodiment, the present invention isdirected to a method of modulating FAD2 or FATB suppression comprising:expressing a partial FAD2 or FATB gene element sequence in a host cell,where a FAD2 or FATB gene element is from an endogenous FAD2 or FATBgene in the host cell and a FAD2 or FATB gene element sequence can be aFAD2 or FATB gene, a FAD2 or FATB exon, a FAD2 or FATB intron, a FAD2 orFATB transit peptide coding region, or a FAD2 or FATB UTR; and thepartial FAD2 or FATB gene element sequence is less than the entire FAD2or FATB gene element sequence; and suppressing an endogenous FAD2 orFATB with the partial FAD2 or FATB gene element sequence, wheresuppression levels of the FAD2 or FATB endogenous gene in the host cellare less than suppression levels of the FAD2 or FATB endogenous gene ina host cell with a similar genetic background and a second FAD2 or FATBnucleic acid sequence comprising the entire FAD2 or FATB gene elementsequence of the FAD2 or FATB gene element.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method ofaltering the oil composition of a plant cell by transforming a plantcell with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule which comprises a DNAsequence that suppresses endogenous expression of FAD2, FATB, or FAD2and FATB where the DNA sequence comprises a nucleic acid sequence ofFAD2, FATB, or FAD2 and FATB that is shorter than the entire sequence ofan entire genetic element selected from a gene, an exon, an intron, atransit peptide coding region, a 3′-UTR, a 5′-UTR, and an open readingframe; and growing the plant cell under conditions where transcriptionof said DNA sequence is initiated, whereby the oil composition isaltered relative to a plant cell with a similar genetic background butlacking the recombinant nucleic acid molecule. A gene element of FAD2 orFATB can be shortened in length by 50, 75, 100, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300,350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 nucleotides. Alength of a gene element of FAD2 or FATB can be 50, 75, 100, 150, 175,200, 220, 250, 300, 320, 350, 400, 420, 450, 500, 550 600, 800, or 1000nucleotides.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method ofenhancing oleic acid content and reducing saturated fatty acid contentin a plant seed by: i) shortening the length of an exogenous FAD2 DNAsequence in a host cell until the amount of suppression of FAD2expression from a transformed plant is at least partially reducedrelative to the suppression of FAD2 expression in a host cell with asimilar genetic background and an entire exogenous FAD2 gene DNAsequence; and ii) growing a plant with a nucleic acid moleculecomprising the shortened FAD2 DNA sequence, where the shortened FAD2 DNAsequence at least partially suppresses endogenous expression of FAD2;and iii) cultivating a plant that produces seed with a reduced saturatedfatty acid content relative to seed from a plant having a similargenetic background but lacking the shortened FAD2 DNA sequence. Theamount that the exogenous FAD2 DNA sequence is shortened to at leastpartially reduce suppression of the endogenous FAD2 can be determinedempirically by introducing different lengths of DNA. For example, theamount of reduction in suppression obtainable by reducing the length ofhomologous introduced DNA can be determined by deleting increasingportions of the homologous DNA being introduced and assaying forexpression of the targeted gene. The amount of suppression of FAD2expression can be obtained as an average of three or more, six or more,ten or more, fifteen or more, or twenty or more seeds from a plant.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method ofproducing a transformed plant having seed with a reduced saturated fattyacid content by transforming a plant cell with a recombinant nucleicacid molecule which comprises a DNA sequence that suppresses theendogenous expression of FAD2 and FATB, where the DNA sequence comprisesa nucleic acid sequence of FAD2 that is shorter than the entire sequenceof an entire genetic element selected from a gene, an exon, an intron, atransit peptide coding region, and a UTR; and growing the transformedplant, where the transformed plant produces seed with a reducedsaturated fatty acid content relative to seed from a plant having asimilar genetic background but lacking said recombinant nucleic acidmolecule.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method ofmodulating the fatty acid composition of oil from a seed of a temperateoilseed crop by isolating a genetic element of at least 40 nucleotidesin length that is capable of suppressing the expression of an endogenousgene in the fatty acid synthesis pathway; generating more than oneshortened fragment of the genetic element; introducing each of the morethan one shortened fragments into a plant cell of the temperate oilseedcrop to produce transgenic plants; and selecting a transgenic plantcomprising a shortened fragment of determined length and sequence thateffects a desirable change in seed oil fatty acid composition. In apreferred embodiment, the method above also includes constructing arecombinant DNA construct having at least two shortened fragments of twodifferent endogenous genes that effect different desirable changes inseed oil fatty acid composition; introducing the recombinant DNAconstruct into a plant cell of the temperate oilseed crop to producetransgenic plants; and selecting a transgenic plant comprising the atleast two shortened fragments and a fatty acid composition of oil from aseed having more than one desirable change effected by the at least twoshortened fragments.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a soybeanseed exhibiting an oil composition having a strongly reduced saturatedfatty acid content and a moderately enhanced oleic acid content having aDNA sequence that suppresses the endogenous expression of FAD2 in a hostcell, where the DNA sequence has a nucleic acid sequence of FAD2 that isshorter than the entire sequence of an entire genetic element selectedfrom a gene, an exon, an intron, a transit peptide coding region, and aUTR.

The following examples are illustrative and not intended to be limitingin any way.

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each individual publication, patent, or patent application wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Isolation of FATB-2 Sequences

Leaf tissue is obtained from Asgrow soy variety A3244, ground in liquidnitrogen and stored at −80° C. until use. Six ml of SDS Extractionbuffer (650 ml sterile ddH₂0, 100 ml 1M Tris-Cl pH 8, 100 ml 0.25M EDTA,50 ml 20% SDS, 100 ml 5M NaCl, 4 μl beta-mercaptoethanol) is added to 2ml of frozen/ground leaf tissue, and the mixture is incubated at 65° C.for 45 minutes. The sample is shaken every 15 minutes. 2 ml of ice-cold5M potassium acetate is added to the sample, the sample is shaken, andthen is incubated on ice for 20 minutes. 3 ml of CHCl₃ is added to thesample and the sample is shaken for 10 minutes.

The sample is centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 20 minutes and thesupernatant is collected. 2 ml of isopropanol is added to thesupernatant and mixed. The sample is then centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for20 minutes and the supernatant is drained. The pellet is resuspended in200 μl RNase and incubated at 65° C. for 20 minutes. 300 μl ammoniumacetate/isopropanol (1:7) is added and mixed. The sample is thencentrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 15 minutes and the supernatant isdiscarded. The pellet is rinsed with 500 μl 80% ethanol and allowed toair dry. The pellet of genomic DNA is then resuspended in 200 μl T10E1(10 mM Tris: 1 mM EDTA).

A soy FATB-2 cDNA contig sequence (SEQ ID NO: 42) is used to designthirteen oligonucleotides that span the gene: F1 (SEQ ID NO: 48), F2(SEQ ID NO: 49), F3 (SEQ ID NO: 50), F4 (SEQ ID NO: 51), F5 (SEQ ID NO:52), F6 (SEQ ID NO: 53), F7 (SEQ ID NO: 54), R1 (SEQ ID NO: 55), R2 (SEQID NO: 56), R3 (SEQ ID NO: 57), R4 (SEQ ID NO: 58), R5 (SEQ ID NO: 59),and R6 (SEQ ID NO: 60). The oligonucleotides are used in pairs for PCRamplification from the isolated soy genomic DNA: pair 1 (F1+R1), pair 2(F2+R1), pair 3 (F3+R2), pair 4 (F4+R3), pair 5 (F5+R4), pair 6 (F6+R5),and pair 3 (F3 amplification for pair 5 is carried out as follows: 1cycle, 95° C. for 10 minutes; 30 cycles, 95°°C. for 15 sec, 43° C. for30 sec, 72° C. for 45 sec; 1 cycle, 72° C. for 7 minutes. For all otheroligo pairs, PCR amplifications are carried out as follows: 1 cycle, 95°C. for 10 minutes; 30 cycles, 95° C. for 15 sec, 48° C. for 30 sec, 72°C. for 45 sec; 1 cycle, 72° C. for 7 minutes. Positive fragments areobtained from primer pairs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Each fragment is clonedinto vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen). Fragments 2, 4, 5 and 6 are confirmedand sequenced. These four sequences are aligned to form a genomicsequence for the FATB-2 gene (SEQ ID NO: 43).

Four introns are identified in the soybean FATB-2 gene by comparison ofthe genomic sequence to the cDNA sequence: intron I (SEQ ID NO: 44)spans base 119 to base 1333 of the genomic sequence (SEQ ID NO: 43) andis 1215 bp in length; intron II (SEQ ID NO: 45) spans base 2231 to base2568 of the genomic sequence (SEQ ID NO: 43) and is 338 bp in length;intron III (SEQ ID NO: 46) spans base 2702 to base 3342 of the genomicsequence (SEQ ID NO: 43) and is 641 bp in length; and intron IV (SEQ IDNO: 47) spans base 3457 to base 3823 of the genomic sequence (SEQ ID NO:43) and is 367 bp in length.

Example 2 Suppression Constructs

2A. FAD2-1 Constructs

The FAD2-1A intron #1(SEQ ID NO: 1) is cloned into the expressioncassette, pCGN3892, in sense and antisense orientations. The vectorpCGN3892 contains the soybean 7S promoter and a pea rbcS 3′. Both genefusions are then separately ligated into pCGN9372, a vector thatcontains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter. The resultingexpression constructs (pCGN5469 sense and pCGN5471 antisense) are usedfor transformation of soybean.

The FAD2-1B intron (SEQ ID NO: 2) is fused to the 3′ end of the FAD2-1Aintron #1 in plasmid pCGN5468 (contains the soybean 7S promoter fused tothe FAD2-1A intron (sense) and a pea rbcS 3′) or pCGN5470 (contains thesoybean 7S promoter fused to the FAD2-1A intron (antisense) and a pearbcS 3′) in sense and antisense orientation, respectively. The resultingintron combination fusions are then ligated separately into pCGN9372, avector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter.The resulting expression constructs (pCGN5485, FAD2-1A & FAD2-1B intronsense and pCGN5486, FAD2-1A & FAD2-1B intron antisense) are used fortransformation of soybean.

2B. FAD3-1 Constructs

FAD3-1A introns #1, #2, #4 and #5 (SEQ ID NOs: 7, 8, 10 and 11,respectively), FAD3-1B introns #3C (SEQ ID NO: 23) and #4 (SEQ ID NO:24), are all ligated separately into pCGN3892, in sense or antisenseorientation. pCGN3892 contains the soybean 7S promoter and a pea rbcS3′. These fusions are ligated into pCGN9372, a vector that contains theCP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter for transformation intosoybean. The resulting expression constructs (pCGN5455, FAD3-1A intron#4 sense; pCGN5459, FAD3-1A intron #4 antisense; pCGN5456, FAD3 intron#5 sense; pCGN5460, FAD3-1A intron #5 antisense; pCGN5466, FAD3-1Aintron #2 antisense; pCGN5473, FAD3-1A intron #1 antisense) are used fortransformation of soybean.

2C. FatB Constructs

The soybean FATB-1 intron II sequence (SEQ ID NO: 30) is amplified viaPCR using a FATB-1 partial genomic clone as a template. PCRamplification is carried out as follows: 1 cycle, 95° C. for 10 min; 25cycles, 95° C. for 30 sec, 62° C. for 30 sec, 72° C. for 30 sec; 1cycle, 72° C. for 7 min. PCR amplification results in a product that is854 bp long, including reengineered restriction sites at both ends. ThePCR product is cloned directly into the expression cassette pCGN3892 insense orientation, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends ofthe PCR primers, to form pMON70674. Vector pCGN3892 contains the soybean7S promoter and a pea rbcS 3′. pMON70674 is then cut with NotI andligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS generegulated by the FMV promoter. The resulting gene expression construct,pMON70678, is used for transformation of soybean using Agrobacteriummethods.

Two other expression constructs containing the soybean FATB-1 intron IIsequence (SEQ ID NO: 30) are created. pMON70674 is cut with NotI andligated into pMON70675 which contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated bythe FMV promoter and the KAS IV gene regulated by the napin promoter,resulting in pMON70680. The expression vector pMON70680 is then cut withSnaBI and ligated with a gene fusion of the jojoba delta-9 desaturasegene (SEQ ID NO: 41) in sense orientation regulated by the 7S promoter.The expression constructs pMON70680 and pMON70681 are used fortransformation of soybean using Agrobacterium methods.

2D Combination Constructs

Expression constructs are made containing various permutations of afirst set of DNA sequences. The first set of DNA sequences are any ofthose described, or illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, or any other set ofDNA sequences that contain various combinations of sense, antisense, orsense and antisense FAD2, FAD3, and FATB non-coding or coding regions sothat they are capable of forming dsRNA constructs, sense cosuppressionconstructs, antisense constructs, or various combinations of theforegoing.

FIGS. 5( a)-(c) depict several first sets of DNA sequences which arecapable of expressing sense cosuppression or antisense constructsaccording to the present invention, the non-coding sequences of whichare described in Tables 1 and 2 below. The non-coding sequences may besingle sequences, combinations of sequences (e.g., the 5′UTR linked tothe 3′UTR), or any combination of the foregoing. To express a sensecosuppression construct, all of the non-coding sequences are sensesequences, and to express an antisense construct, all of the non-codingsequences are antisense sequences. FIG. 5( d) depicts a first set of DNAsequences which is capable of expressing sense and antisense constructsaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 6( a)-(c) depict several first sets of DNA sequences which arecapable of expressing dsRNA constructs according to the presentinvention, the non-coding sequences of which are described in Tables 1and 2 below. The first set of DNA sequences depicted in FIG. 6 comprisespairs of related sense and antisense sequences, arranged such that,e.g., the RNA expressed by the first sense sequence is capable offorming a double-stranded RNA with the antisense RNA expressed by thefirst antisense sequence. For example, referring to FIG. 6( a) andillustrative combination No. 1 (of Table 1), the first set of DNAsequences comprises a sense FAD2-1 sequence, a sense FAD3-1 sequence, anantisense FAD2-1 sequence and an antisense FAD3-1 sequence. Bothantisense sequences correspond to the sense sequences so that theexpression products of the first set of DNA sequences are capable offorming a double-stranded RNA with each other. The sense sequences maybe separated from the antisense sequences by a spacer sequence,preferably one that promotes the formation of a dsRNA molecule. Examplesof such spacer sequences include those set forth in Wesley et al.,supra, and Hamilton et al., Plant J., 15:737-746 (1988). The promoter isany promoter functional in a plant, or any plant promoter. Non-limitingexamples of suitable promoters are described in Part D of the DetailedDescription.

The first set of DNA sequences is inserted in an expression construct ineither the sense or anti-sense orientation using a variety of DNAmanipulation techniques. If convenient restriction sites are present inthe DNA sequences, they are inserted into the expression construct bydigesting with the restriction endonucleases and ligation into theconstruct that has been digested at one or more of the available cloningsites. If convenient restriction sites are not available in the DNAsequences, the DNA of either the construct or the DNA sequences ismodified in a variety of ways to facilitate cloning of the DNA sequencesinto the construct. Examples of methods to modify the DNA include byPCR, synthetic linker or adapter ligation, in vitro site-directedmutagenesis, filling in or cutting back of overhanging 5′ or 3′ ends,and the like. These and other methods of manipulating DNA are well knownto those of ordinary skill in the art.

pMON97552 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 140 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end, operably linking to 42 contiguousnucleotides of a FATB-1a 5′ UTR, followed by a FATB-1a CTP codingregion, operably linking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron 4operably linking to a FATB-1a CTP coding region in the anti-senseorientation followed by 42 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a 5′ UTR inthe antisense orientation, followed by a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQID NO: 1), which is reduced by 140 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′end and in the anti-sense orientation, operably linked to a H6 3′polyadenylation segment with a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to anEFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence, all of whichis flanked by a RB and a LB. The resulting gene expression construct isused for transformation using methods as described herein.

pMON93758 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 160 contiguousnucleotides from the 5′ end and ligated to a FATB-1a 3′ UTR followed bya FATB-1a 5′ UTR operably linking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron4 operably linking to a FATB-1a 5′ UTR in the anti-sense orientationfollowed by a FATB-1a 3′ UTR in the antisense orientation, followed by asoybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 160contiguous nucleotides from the 5′ end and in the anti-senseorientation, operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segment with aCP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E93′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the same DNAmolecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

pMON97553 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 200 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides ofa FATB-1a 5′ UTR followed by a FATB-1a CTP coding region operablylinking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron 4 operably linking to aFATB-1a CTP coding region in the anti-sense orientation followed by 42contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a 5′ UTR in the antisense orientation,followed b a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reducedby 200 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end and in the anti-senseorientation, operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segment with aCP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E93′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the same DNAmolecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein. pMON93770 contains asoybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1(SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 240 contiguous nucleotides from the3′ end and ligated to a FATB-1a 3′ UTR and followed by a FATB-1a 5′ UTRoperably linking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron 4 operablylinking to a FATB-1a 5′ UTR in the anti-sense orientation followed by aFATB-1a 3′ UTR in the antisense orientation, followed by a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 240 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and in the anti-sense orientation, operablylinked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segment with a CP4 EPSPS gene operablylinking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequenceall flanked by RB and LB on the same DNA molecule. The resulting geneexpression construct is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

pMON93759 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 240 contiguousnucleotides from the 5′ end and ligated to a FATB-1a 3′ UTR followed bya FATB-1a 5′ UTR operably linking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron4 operably linking to a FATB-1a 5′ UTR in the anti-sense orientationfollowed by a FATB-1a 3′ UTR in the antisense orientation, followed by asoybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 240contiguous nucleotides from the 5′ end and in the anti-senseorientation, operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segment with aCP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E93′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the same DNAmolecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

pMON97554 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 260 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides ofa FATB-1a 5′ UTR, followed by a FATB-1a CTP coding region, operablylinking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron 4, operably linking to aFATB-1a CTP coding region in the anti-sense orientation followed by 42contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a 5′ UTR in the antisense orientation,followed by a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reducedby 260 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end and in the anti-senseorientation, operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segment with aCP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E93′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the same DNAmolecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

pMON93771 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 300 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to a FATB-1a 3′ UTR and followedby a FATB-1a 5′ UTR, operably linking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1Aintron 4 operably linking to a FATB-1a 5′ UTR in the anti-senseorientation followed by a FATB-1a 3′ UTR in the antisense orientation,followed by a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reducedby 300 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end and in the anti-senseorientation, operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segment with aCP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E93′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the same DNAmolecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

pMON97555 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides ofa FATB-1a 5′ UTR followed by a FATB-1a CTP coding region operablylinking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron 4 operably linking to aFATB-1a CTP coding region in the anti-sense orientation followed by 42contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a 5′ UTR in the antisense orientationfollowed by a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reducedby 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end and in the anti-senseorientation, operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segment with aCP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E93′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the same DNAmolecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

pMON93760 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguousnucleotides from the 5′ end and ligated to a FATB-1a 3′ UTR and followedby a FATB-1a 5′ UTR operably linking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1Aintron 4 operably linking to a FATB-1a 5′ UTR in the anti-senseorientation followed by a FATB-1a 3′ UTR in the antisense orientationfollowed by a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reducedby 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 5′ end and in the anti-senseorientation, operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segment with aCP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E93′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the same DNAmolecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

pMON93772 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 360 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to a FATB-1a 3′ UTR and followedby a FATB-1a 5′ UTR operably linking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1Aintron 4 operably linking to a FATB-1a 5′ UTR in the anti-senseorientation followed by a FATB-1a 3′ UTR in the antisense orientation,followed by a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reducedby 360 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end and in the anti-senseorientation, operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segment with aCP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E93′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the same DNAmolecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

pMON97556 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 380 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides ofa FATB-1a 5′ UTR, followed by a FATB-1a CTP coding region, operablylinking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron 4, operably linking to aFATB-1a CTP coding region in the anti-sense orientation followed by 42contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a 5′ UTR in the antisense orientation,operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which isreduced by 380 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end and in theanti-sense orientation, operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylationsegment with a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and apea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on thesame DNA molecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

pMON93764 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 400 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to a FATB-1a CTP coding regionfollowed by a FATB-2a CTP coding region operably linking to 70nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron 4 operably linking to a FATB-2a CTPcoding region in the anti-sense orientation followed by a FATB-1a CTPcoding region in the antisense orientation, followed by a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 400 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and in the anti-sense orientation, operablylinked to a FATB-2a CTP coding region in the anti-sense orientationfollowed by 42 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-2a 5′ UTR in theantisense orientation operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segmentwith a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and a peaRubisco E9 3′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the sameDNA molecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

TABLE 1 Illustrative Non-Coding or Coding Sequences (sense or antisense)Combinations First Second Third Fourth  1 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C 2 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B  3 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or Cdifferent FAD3-1A or B or C sequence  4 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or CFATB-1  5 FAD2-1A or B FATB-1 FAD3-1A or B or C  6 FAD3-1A or B or CFAD2-1A or B FATB-1  7 FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-1 FAD2-1A or B  8 FATB-1FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B  9 FATB-1 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C10 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FATB-1 or B or Csequence 11 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A FATB-1 or Bor C sequence 12 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B FATB-1or B or C sequence 13 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-1 differentFAD3-1A or B or C sequence 14 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B FATB-1different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 15 FAD3-1A or B or C differentFAD3-1A FATB-1 FAD2-1A or B or B or C sequence 16 FAD2-1A or B FATB-1FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 17 FAD3-1A or Bor C FATB-1 FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 18 FAD3-1Aor B or C FATB-1 different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B or B or C sequence 19FATB-1 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A or B or Csequence 20 FATB-1 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A or Bor C sequence 21 FATB-1 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or Bor B or C sequence 22 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-2 23 FAD2-1Aor B FATB-2 FAD3-1A or B or C 24 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B FATB-225 FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-2 FAD2-1A or B 26 FATB-2 FAD3-1A or B or CFAD2-1A or B 27 FATB-2 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C 28 FAD2-1A or BFAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FATB-2 or B or C sequence 29 FAD3-1Aor B or C FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A FATB-2 or B or C sequence 30FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B FATB-2 or B or Csequence 31 FAD2-1A or B FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-2 different FAD3-1A or Bor C sequence 32 FAD3-1A or B or C FAD2-1A or B FATB-2 different FAD3-1Aor B or C sequence 33 FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FATB-2 FAD2-1Aor B or B or C sequence 34 FAD2-1A or B FATB-2 FAD3-1A or B or Cdifferent FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 35 FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-2 FAD2-1Aor B different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 36 FAD3-1A or B or C FATB-2different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B or B or C sequence 37 FATB-2 FAD2-1A or BFAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 38 FATB-2 FAD3-1Aor B or C FAD2-1A or B different FAD3-1A or B or C sequence 39 FATB-2FAD3-1A or B or C different FAD3-1A FAD2-1A or B or B or C sequence

TABLE 2 Correlation of SEQ ID NOs with Sequences in Table 1 FAD2-1AFAD2-1B FAD3-1A FAD3-1B FAD3-1C FATB-1 FATB-2 3′UTR SEQ NO: 5 n/a SEQNO: SEQ NO: SEQ NO: SEQ n/a 16 26 61 NO: 36 5′UTR SEQ NO: 6 n/a SEQ NO:SEQ NO: SEQ NO: SEQ n/a 17 27 62 NO: 37 5′ + 3′ UTR Linked n/a LinkedLinked n/a Linked n/a (or 3′ + 5′ SEQ SEQ SEQ NOs: SEQ UTR) NOs: 5 NOs:16 26 and 27 NOs: 36 and 6 and 17 and 37 Intron #1 SEQ NO: 1 SEQ NO: 2SEQ NO: 7 SEQ NO: n/a SEQ SEQ NO: 19 NO: 29 44 Intron #2 n/a n/a SEQ NO:8 SEQ NO: n/a SEQ SEQ NO: 20 NO: 30 45 Intron #3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a SEQSEQ NO: NO: 31 46 Intron #3A n/a n/a SEQ NO: 9 SEQ NO: n/a n/a n/a 21Intron #3B n/a n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: n/a n/a n/a 12 22 Intron #3C n/a n/aSEQ NO: SEQ NO: n/a n/a n/a 13 23 Intron #4 n/a n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: SEQNO: SEQ SEQ 10 24 14 NO: 32 NO: 47 Intron #5 n/a n/a SEQ NO: SEQ NO: n/aSEQ n/a 11 25 NO: 33 Intron #6 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a SEQ n/a NO: 34 Intron#7 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a SEQ n/a NO: 35

Example 3 Combination Constructs

In FIGS. 7-15, promoters are indicated by arrows, encoding sequences(both coding and non-coding) are indicated by pentagons which point inthe direction of transcription, sense sequences are labeled in normaltext, and antisense sequences are labeled in upside-down text. Theabbreviations used in these Figures include: 7Sa=7Sα promoter; 7Sa′=7Sα′promoter; Br napin=Brassica napin promoter; FMV=an FMV promoter;ARC=arcelin promoter; RBC E9 3′=Rubisco E9 termination signal; Nos3′=nos termination signal; TML 3′=tml termination signal; napin 3′=napintermination signal; '3 (in the same box as FAD or FAT)=3′ UTR; 5′ (inthe same box as FAD or FAT)=5′UTR; Cr=Cuphea pulcherrima; Gm=Glycinemax; Rc=Ricinus communis; FAB2=a FAB2 allele of a delta 9stearoyl-desaturase gene; and Intr or Int=intron.

3A. dsRNA Constructs

FIGS. 7-9 depict nucleic acid molecules of the present invention inwhich the first sets of DNA sequences are capable of expressing dsRNAconstructs. The first set of DNA sequences depicted in FIGS. 7-9comprise pairs of related sense and antisense sequences, arranged suchthat, e.g., the RNA expressed by the first sense sequence is capable offorming a double-stranded RNA with the antisense RNA expressed by thefirst antisense sequence. The sense sequences may be adjacent to theantisense sequences, or separated from the antisense sequences by aspacer sequence, as shown in FIG. 9.

The second set of DNA sequences comprises coding sequences, each ofwhich is a DNA sequence that encodes a sequence that when expressed iscapable of increasing one or both of the protein and transcript encodedby a gene selected from the group consisting of KAS I, KAS IV, delta-9desaturase, and CP4 EPSPS. Each coding sequence is associated with apromoter, which can be any promoter functional in a plant, or any plantpromoter, and may be an FMV promoter, a napin promoter, a 7S (either 7Sαor 7Sα′) promoter, an arcelin promoter, a delta-9 desaturase promoter,or a FAD2-1A promoter.

Referring now to FIG. 7, soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2),FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16), and FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36)sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCR products that includereengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR products are cloneddirectly, in sense and antisense orientations, separated by a spliceablesoybean FAD3-1A intron 5 (SEQ ID NO: 11), into a vector containing thesoybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoIsites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector is thencut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′termination sequence. Vectors containing a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene(SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by a Brassica napin promoter and a Brassicanapin 3′ termination sequence, and a R. communis delta-9 desaturase(FAB2) gene (SEQ ID NO: 40) regulated by a soybean FAD2 promoter and anos 3′ termination sequence, are cut with appropriate restrictionenzymes, and ligated into pMON41164. The resulting gene expressionconstruct, pMON68539, is depicted in FIG. 7 and is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2), FAD3-1A intron 4 (SEQ IDNO: 10), and FATB-1 intron II (SEQ ID NO: 30) sequences are amplifiedvia PCR to result in PCR products that include reengineered restrictionsites at both ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense andantisense orientations, separated by a spliceable soybean FAD3-1A intron5 (SEQ ID NO: 11), into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoterand a tml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered ontothe 5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI andligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS generegulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence. The resulting gene expression construct, pMON68540, isdepicted in FIG. 7 and is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2), FAD3-1A intron 4 (SEQ IDNO: 10), and FATB-1 intron II (SEQ ID NO: 30) sequences are amplifiedvia PCR to result in PCR products that include reengineered restrictionsites at both ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense andantisense orientations, separated by a spliceable soybean FAD3-1A intron5 (SEQ ID NO: 11), into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoterand a tml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered ontothe 5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI andligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS generegulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence. A vector containing a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO:39) regulated by a Brassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3′termination sequence is cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, andligated into pMON41164. The resulting gene expression construct,pMON68544, is depicted in FIG. 7 and is used for transformation usingmethods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2), FAD3-1A intron 4 (SEQ IDNO: 10), FATB-1 intron II (SEQ ID NO: 30), and FAD3-1B intron 4 (SEQ IDNO: 24) sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCR products thatinclude reengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR productsare cloned directly, in sense and antisense orientations, separated by aspliceable soybean FAD3-1A intron 5 (SEQ ID NO: 11), into a vectorcontaining the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ termination sequence,by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCR primers. Thevector is then cut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, a vector thatcontains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a peaRubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resulting gene expressionconstruct, pMON68546, is depicted in FIG. 7 and is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 8, soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2),FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16), and FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36)sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCR products that includereengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR products are cloneddirectly, in sense and antisense orientations, separated by a spliceablesoybean FAD3-1A intron 5 (SEQ ID NO: 11), into a vector containing thesoybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoIsites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector is thencut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′termination sequence. The resulting gene expression construct,pMON68536, is depicted in FIG. 8 and is used for transformation usingmethods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO:16), and FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36) sequences are amplified via PCR toresult in PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites atboth ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense and antisenseorientations, separated by a spliceable soybean FAD3-1A intron 5 (SEQ IDNO: 11), into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. A vector containing a R. communis delta-9 desaturase(FAB2) gene (SEQ ID NO: 40) regulated by a soybean FAD2 promoter and anos 3′ termination sequence, is cut with appropriate restrictionenzymes, and ligated just upstream of the tml 3′ termination sequence.The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, a vectorthat contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a peaRubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resulting gene expressionconstruct, pMON68537, is depicted in FIG. 8 and is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO:16), and FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36) sequences are amplified via PCR toresult in PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites atboth ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense and antisenseorientations, separated by a spliceable soybean FAD3-1A intron 5 (SEQ IDNO: 11), into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. A vectorcontaining a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by aBrassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence iscut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164.The resulting gene expression construct, pMON68538, is depicted in FIG.8 and is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 9, soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FATB-13′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16), and FAD3-1B 3′UTR(SEQ ID NO: 26) sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCRproducts that include reengineered restriction sites at both ends. ThePCR products are cloned directly, in sense and antisense orientations,separated by a spliceable soybean FAD3-1A intron 5 (SEQ ID NO: 11), intoa vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ terminationsequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCRprimers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, avector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoterand a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resulting geneexpression construct, pMON80622, is depicted in FIG. 9 and is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36), andFAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16) sequences are amplified via PCR to resultin PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites at bothends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense and antisenseorientations, separated by a spliceable soybean FAD3-1A intron 5 (SEQ IDNO: 11), into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resultinggene expression construct, pMON80623, is depicted in FIG. 9 and is usedfor transformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 5, ligated together),FATB-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 36, ligated together), FAD3-1A3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16) and FAD3-1B 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 26,ligated together) sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCRproducts that include reengineered restriction sites at both ends. ThePCR products are cloned directly, in sense and antisense orientations,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resultinggene expression construct, O5, is depicted in FIG. 9 and is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 5, ligated together),FATB-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 36, ligated together) and FAD3-1A3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16) sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCRproducts that include reengineered restriction sites at both ends. ThePCR products are cloned directly, in sense and antisense orientations,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. A vectorcontaining a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by aBrassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence iscut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164.The resulting gene expression construct, O6, is depicted in FIG. 9 andis used for transformation using methods as described herein.

3B. Sense Cosuppression Constructs

FIGS. 10-13 and 19-20 depict nucleic acid molecules of the presentinvention in which the first sets of DNA sequences are capable ofexpressing sense cosuppression constructs. The second set of DNAsequences comprises coding sequences, each of which is a DNA sequencethat encodes a sequence that when expressed is capable of increasing oneor both of the protein and transcript encoded by a gene selected fromthe group consisting of KAS I, KAS IV, delta-9 desaturase, and CP4EPSPS. Each coding sequence is associated with a promoter, which is anypromoter functional in a plant, or any plant promoter, and may be an FMVpromoter, a napin promoter, a 7S promoter (either 7Sα or 7Sα′), anarcelin promoter, a delta-9 desaturase promoter, or a FAD2-1A promoter.

Referring now to FIG. 10, soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2),FAD3-1C intron 4 (SEQ ID NO: 14), FATB-1 intron II (SEQ ID NO: 30),FAD3-1A intron 4 (SEQ ID NO: 10), and FAD3-1B intron 4 (SEQ ID NO: 24)sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCR products that includereengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR products are cloneddirectly, in sense orientation, into a vector containing the soybean7Sα′ promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence, by way ofXhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector isthen cut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, a vector that containsthe CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′termination sequence. The resulting gene expression construct,pMON68522, is depicted in FIG. 10 and is used for transformation usingmethods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2), FAD3-1A intron 4 (SEQ IDNO: 10), FAD3-1B intron 4 (SEQ ID NO: 24), and FATB-1 intron II (SEQ IDNO: 30) sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCR products thatinclude reengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR productsare cloned directly, in sense orientation, into a vector containing thesoybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoIsites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector is thencut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′termination sequence. Vectors containing a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene(SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by a Brassica napin promoter and a Brassicanapin 3′ termination sequence, and a R. communis delta-9 desaturase(FAB2) gene (SEQ ID NO: 40) regulated by a soybean FAD2 promoter and anos 3′ termination sequence, are cut with appropriate restrictionenzymes, and ligated into pMON41164. The resulting gene expressionconstruct, pMON80614, is depicted in FIG. 10 and is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO:16), and FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36) sequences are amplified via PCR toresult in PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites atboth ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resultinggene expression construct, pMON68531, is depicted in FIG. 10 and is usedfor transformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO:16), and FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36) sequences are amplified via PCR toresult in PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites atboth ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. Vectorscontaining a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by aBrassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence,and a R. communis delta-9 desaturase (FAB2) gene (SEQ ID NO: 40)regulated by a soybean FAD2 promoter and a nos 3′ termination sequence,are cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated intopMON41164. The resulting gene expression construct, pMON68534, isdepicted in FIG. 10 and is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO:16), and FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36) sequences are amplified via PCR toresult in PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites atboth ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. A vectorcontaining a R. communis delta-9 desaturase (FAB2) gene (SEQ ID NO: 40)regulated by a soybean FAD2 promoter and a nos 3′ termination sequence,is cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164.The resulting gene expression construct, pMON68535, is depicted in FIG.10 and is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 11, soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FAD3-1A3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16), and FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36) sequences areamplified via PCR to result in PCR products that include reengineeredrestriction sites at both ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, insense orientation, into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoterand a tml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered ontothe 5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI andligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS generegulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence. The resulting gene expression construct, pMON80605, isdepicted in FIG. 11 and is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16), andFATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36) sequences are amplified via PCR to resultin PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites at bothends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation, into avector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ terminationsequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCRprimers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, avector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoterand a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. A vector containing a C.pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by a Brassica napinpromoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence is cut withappropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164. Theresulting gene expression construct, pMON80606, is depicted in FIG. 11and is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16), andFATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36) sequences are amplified via PCR to resultin PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites at bothends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation, into avector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ terminationsequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCRprimers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, avector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoterand a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. A vector containing a R.communis delta-9 desaturase (FAB2) gene (SEQ ID NO: 40) regulated by asoybean FAD2 promoter and a nos 3′ termination sequence is cut withappropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164. Theresulting gene expression construct, pMON80607, is depicted in FIG. 11and is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16), andFATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36) sequences are amplified via PCR to resultin PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites at bothends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation, into avector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ terminationsequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCRprimers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, avector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoterand a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. Vectors containing a C.pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by a Brassica napinpromoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence, and a R. communisdelta-9 desaturase (FAB2) gene (SEQ ID NO: 40) regulated by a soybeanFAD2 promoter and a nos 3′ termination sequence, are cut withappropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164. Theresulting gene expression construct, pMON80614, is depicted in FIG. 11and is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 12, soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FATB-13′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36), and FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16) sequences areamplified via PCR to result in PCR products that include reengineeredrestriction sites at both ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, insense orientation, into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα promoter anda tml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligatedinto pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated bythe FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. Theresulting gene expression construct, pMON80629, is depicted in FIG. 12and is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2), FAD3-1A intron 4 (SEQ IDNO: 10), FATB-1 intron II (SEQ ID NO: 30), and FAD3-1A intron 4 (SEQ IDNO: 10) sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCR products thatinclude reengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR productsare cloned directly, in sense orientation, into a vector containing thesoybean 7Sα promoter and a tml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoIsites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector is thencut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′termination sequence. The resulting gene expression construct,pMON81902, is depicted in FIG. 12 and is used for transformation usingmethods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 5, ligated together),FAD3-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 16, ligated together, or 27 and26, ligated together), and FATB-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 36,ligated together) sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCRproducts that include reengineered restriction sites at both ends. TheFAD2-1 PCR product is cloned directly, in sense orientation, into avector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ terminationsequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCRprimers. Similarly, the FAD3-1 PCR product is cloned directly, in senseorientation, into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα promoter and a tml3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ends of the PCR primers. The FATB-1 PCR product is cloned directly, insense orientation, into a vector containing the arcelin promoter and atml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ends of the PCR primers. These vectors are then cut with NotI andligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS generegulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence. The resulting gene expression construct, O1, is depicted inFIG. 12 and is used for transformation using methods as describedherein.

Soybean FAD2-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 5, ligated together),FAD3-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 16, ligated together, or 27 and26, ligated together), and FATB-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 36,ligated together) sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCRproducts that include reengineered restriction sites at both ends. TheFAD2-1 PCR product is cloned directly, in sense orientation, into avector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ terminationsequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCRprimers. Similarly, the FAD3-1 PCR product is cloned directly, in senseorientation, into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα promoter and a tml3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ends of the PCR primers. The FATB-1 PCR product is cloned directly, insense orientation, into a vector containing the arcelin promoter and atml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ends of the PCR primers. These vectors are then cut with NotI andligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS generegulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence. A vector containing a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO:39) regulated by a Brassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3′termination sequence is cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, andligated into pMON41164. The resulting gene expression construct, O2, isdepicted in FIG. 12 and is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 13, soybean FAD2-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 6 and5, ligated together), FATB-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 36, ligatedtogether), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16), and FAD3-1B 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQID NOs: 27 and 26, ligated together) sequences are amplified via PCR toresult in PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites atboth ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vectors are then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. A vectorcontaining a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by aBrassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence iscut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164.The resulting gene expression construct, O7, is depicted in FIG. 13 andis used for transformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2) is amplified via PCR toresult in PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites atboth ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. Soybean FATB-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 36,ligated together), FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16), and FAD3-1B5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 26, ligated together) sequences areamplified via PCR to result in PCR products that include reengineeredrestriction sites at both ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, insense orientation, into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα promoter anda nos 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vectors are then cut with NotI andligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS generegulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence. A vector containing a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO:39) regulated by a Brassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3′termination sequence is cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, andligated into pMON41164. The resulting gene expression construct, O9, isdepicted in FIG. 13 and is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 19, soybean FATB-2 non-coding sequences (SEQ IDNOs: 44-47), FAD2-1 non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 5-6), andFATB-1 non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 29-37) are amplified via PCR toresult in PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites atboth ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vectors are then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON80612, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resultinggene expression construct is depicted in FIG. 19-A and is used fortransformation using methods described herein.

A DNA sequence containing a delta-9 desaturase is regulated by a 7Salpha promoter and a TML 3′ termination sequence is cut using theappropriate restriction enzymes and ligated into the above expressionconstruct. The resulting expression construct is depicted in FIG. 19-Band is used for transformation using methods described herein.

A vector containing a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39)regulated by a bean arcelin promoter and a napin 3′ termination sequenceis cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into the aboveexpression construct. The resulting gene expression construct isdepicted in FIG. 19-C and is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 20 soybean FATB-2 non-coding sequences (SEQ IDNOs: 44-47), FAD2-1 non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 5-6), FATB-1non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 29-37), FAD3-1A non-coding sequences(SEQ ID NOs: 7-13 and 16-17), and FAD3-1B non-coding sequences (SEQ IDNOs: 19-27) are amplified via PCR to result in PCR products that includereengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR products are cloneddirectly, in sense orientation, into a vector containing the soybean7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sitesengineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vectors are then cutwith NotI and ligated into pMON80612, a vector that contains the CP4EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′termination sequence. The resulting gene expression construct isdepicted in FIG. 20-A and is used for transformation using methodsdescribed herein.

A DNA sequence containing a delta-9 desaturase is regulated by a 7Salpha promoter and a TML 3′ termination sequence is cut using theappropriate restriction enzymes and ligated into the above expressionconstruct. The resulting expression construct is depicted in FIG. 20-Band is used for transformation using methods described herein.

A vector containing a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39)regulated by a Brassica bean arcelin promoter and a napin 3′ terminationsequence is cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated intothe above expression construct. The resulting gene expression constructis depicted in FIG. 20-C and is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

pMON93501 contains a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) operablylinking to a soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a H6 3′ termination sequence, aC. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) operably linking to aBrassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence,the Ricinus communis delta 9 desaturase gene (U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2003/00229918 A1) operably linking to a soybean 7Sαpromoter and a nos 3′ termination sequence, and a CP4 EPSPS geneoperably linking to an EFMV promoter (a constitutive promoter derivedfrom a figwort mosaic virus) promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′termination sequence all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements,i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The resulting geneexpression construct is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

3C. Antisense Constructs

FIG. 14 depicts nucleic acid molecules of the present invention in whichthe first sets of DNA sequences are capable of expressing antisenseconstructs, and FIGS. 15 through 18 depict nucleic acid molecules of thepresent invention in which the first sets of DNA sequences are capableof expressing combinations of sense and antisense constructs. The secondset of DNA sequences comprises coding sequences, each of which is a DNAsequence that encodes a sequence that when expressed is capable ofincreasing one or both of the protein and transcript encoded by a geneselected from the group consisting of KAS I, KAS IV, delta-9 desaturase,and CP4 EPSPS. Each coding sequence is associated with a promoter, whichis any promoter functional in a plant, or any plant promoter, and may bean FMV promoter, a napin promoter, a 7S (either 7Sα or 7Sα′) promoter,an arcelin promoter, a delta-9 desaturase promoter, or a FAD2-1Apromoter.

Referring now to FIG. 14, soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FATB-13′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36), and FAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16) sequences areamplified via PCR to result in PCR products that include reengineeredrestriction sites at both ends. The PCR products are cloned directly, inantisense orientation, into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′promoter and a tml 3′ termination sequence, by way of XhoI sitesengineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector is then cutwith NotI and ligated into pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′termination sequence. The resulting gene expression construct,pMON80615, is depicted in FIG. 14 and is used for transformation usingmethods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36), andFAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16) sequences are amplified via PCR to resultin PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites at bothends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in antisense orientation,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. A vectorcontaining a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by aBrassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence iscut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164.The resulting gene expression construct, pMON80616, is depicted in FIG.14 and is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36), andFAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16) sequences are amplified via PCR to resultin PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites at bothends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in antisense orientation,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. A vectorcontaining a R. communis delta-9 desaturase (FAB2) gene (SEQ ID NO: 40)regulated by a soybean FAD2 promoter and a nos 3′ termination sequence,is cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164.The resulting gene expression construct, pMON80617, is depicted in FIG.14 and is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 5), FATB-1 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 36), andFAD3-1A 3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16) sequences are amplified via PCR to resultin PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites at bothends. The PCR products are cloned directly, in antisense orientation,into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα promoter and a tml 3′termination sequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ endsof the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated intopMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resultinggene expression construct, pMON80630, is depicted in FIG. 14 and is usedfor transformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 5, ligated together),FATB-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 36, ligated together), FAD3-1A3′UTR (SEQ ID NO: 16), and FAD3-1B 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 26,ligated together) sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCRproducts that include reengineered restriction sites at both ends. ThePCR products are cloned directly, in antisense orientation, into avector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ terminationsequence, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCRprimers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, avector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoterand a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. A vector containing a C.pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by a Brassica napinpromoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence is cut withappropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164. Theresulting gene expression construct, O8, is depicted in FIG. 14 and isused for transformation using methods as described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 15, soybean FAD2-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 6 and5, ligated together), FAD3-1A 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 16,ligated together), and FATB-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 36,ligated together) sequences are amplified via PCR to result in PCRproducts that include reengineered restriction sites at both ends. ThePCR products are cloned directly in sense and antisense orientation intoa vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ terminationsequence, with an additional soybean 7Sα promoter located between thesense and antisense sequences, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the5′ ends of the PCR primers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligatedinto pMON41164, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated bythe FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. Theresulting gene expression construct, O3, is depicted in FIG. 15 and isused for transformation using methods as described herein.

Soybean FAD2-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 5, ligated together),FAD3-1A 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 27 and 26, ligated together), andFATB-1 5′UTR-3′UTR (SEQ ID NOs: 37 and 36, ligated together) sequencesare amplified via PCR to result in PCR products that includereengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR products are cloneddirectly in sense and antisense orientation into a vector containing thesoybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ termination sequence, with anadditional soybean 7Sα promoter located between the sense and antisensesequences, by way of XhoI sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of the PCRprimers. The vector is then cut with NotI and ligated into pMON41164, avector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoterand a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. A vector containing a C.pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) regulated by a Brassica napinpromoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence is cut withappropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into pMON41164. Theresulting gene expression construct, O4, is depicted in FIG. 15 and isused for transformation using methods as described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 16, soybean FATB-2 non-coding sequences (SEQ IDNOs: 44-47), FATB-1 non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 29-37), and FAD2-1non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 5-6) are amplified via PCR toresult in PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites atboth ends. The PCR products are cloned directly in sense and antisenseorientation into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml3′ termination sequence. The vector is then cut with with an appropriaterestriction endonuclease and ligated into pMON80612 a vector thatcontains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a peaRubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resulting gene expressionconstruct is depicted in FIG. 16-A and is used for transformation usingmethods as described herein.

A DNA sequence containing a delta-9 desaturase is regulated by a 7Salpha promoter and a TML 3′ termination sequence is cut using theappropriate restriction enzymes and ligated into the above expressionconstruct. The resulting expression construct is depicted in FIG. 16-Band is used for transformation using methods described herein.

A vector containing a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39)regulated by a bean arcelin promoter and a napin 3′ termination sequenceis cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into the aboveexpression construct. The resulting gene expression construct isdepicted in FIG. 16-C and is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 17, soybean FATB-2 non-coding sequences (SEQ IDNOs: 44-47), FATB-1 non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 29-37), FAD2-1non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 5-6), and FAD3-1A non-codingsequences (SEQ ID NOs: 7-13 and 16-17) are amplified via PCR to resultin PCR products that include reengineered restriction sites at bothends. The PCR products are cloned directly in sense and antisenseorientation into a vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml3′ termination sequence. The vector is then cut with with an appropriaterestriction endonuclease and ligated into pMON80612, a vector thatcontains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by the FMV promoter and a peaRubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resulting gene expressionconstruct is depicted in FIG. 17-A and is used for transformation usingmethods as described herein.

A DNA sequence containing a delta-9 desaturase is regulated by a 7Salpha promoter and a TML 3′ termination sequence is cut using theappropriate restriction enzymes and ligated into the above expressionconstruct. The resulting expression construct is depicted in FIG. 17-Band is used for transformation using methods described herein.

A vector containing a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39)regulated by a bean arcelin promoter and a napin 3′ termination sequenceis cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into the aboveexpression construct. The resulting gene expression construct isdepicted in FIG. 17-C and is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 18, soybean FATB-2 non-coding sequences (SEQ IDNOs: 44-47), FATB-1 non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 29-37), FAD2-1non-coding sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 5-6), FAD3-1A non-codingsequences (SEQ ID NOs: 7-13 and 16-17) and FAD3-1B non-coding sequences(SEQ ID NOs: 19-27) are amplified via PCR to result in PCR products thatinclude reengineered restriction sites at both ends. The PCR productsare cloned directly in sense and antisense orientation into a vectorcontaining the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ termination sequence.The vector is then cut with with an appropriate restriction endonucleaseand ligated into pMON80612, a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS generegulated by the FMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence. The resulting gene expression construct is depicted in FIG.18-A and is used for transformation using methods as described herein.

A DNA sequence containing a delta-9 desaturase is regulated by a 7Salpha promoter and a TML 3′ termination sequence is cut using theappropriate restriction enzymes and ligated into the above expressionconstruct. The resulting expression construct is depicted in FIG. 18-Band is used for transformation using methods described herein.

A vector containing a C. pulcherrima KAS IV gene (SEQ ID NO: 39)regulated by a bean arcelin promoter and a napin 3′ termination sequenceis cut with appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into the aboveexpression construct. The resulting gene expression construct isdepicted in FIG. 18-C and is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.The above-described nucleic acid molecules arepreferred embodiments which achieve the objects, features and advantagesof the present invention. It is not intended that the present inventionbe limited to the illustrated embodiments. The arrangement of thesequences in the first and second sets of DNA sequences within thenucleic acid molecule is not limited to the illustrated and describedarrangements, and may be altered in any manner suitable for achievingthe objects, features and advantages of the present invention asdescribed herein, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andencompassed within the claims.

3D. In vivo Assembly

An aspect of the present invention includes a DNA construct thatassembles into a recombinant transcription unit on a plant chromosome inplanta capable of forming double-stranded RNA. The assembly of suchconstructs and the methods for assembling in vivo a recombinanttranscription unit for gene suppression are described in InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2005/00681, hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

pMON93505 is a construct used for in vivo assembly and has two T-DNAsegments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e.right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segmentcontains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguous nucleotidesfrom the 3′ end and ligated to the FATB-1a3′ UTR followed by a FATB-1a5′UTR, a C. pulcherrima KAS W gene (SEQ ID NO: 39) operably linking to aBrassica napin promoter and a Brassica napin 3′ termination sequence, aRicinus communis delta 9 desaturase gene (U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2003/00229918 A1) operably linking to a soybean 7SApromoter and a nos 3′ termination sequence, and a CP4 EPSPS geneoperably linking to a eFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. rightborder DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). On the same construct, in thesecond T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3′termination sequence operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′end and ligated to the FATB-1a3′ UTR followed by a FATB-1a5′ UTR. Theresulting gene expression construct is used for transformation usingmethods as described herein.

When the two T-DNA segments of the above construct are inserted into asingle locus of the chromosome of a host organism in a RB to RBorientation, the assembled transcription unit has a soybean 7Sα′promoter operably linking sense and anti-sense oriented soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 and FATB-1a DNA fragments. When transcribed, the operablylinked sense and anti-sense oriented RNA sequences are capable offorming double-stranded RNA effective for suppression of FAD2-1A andFATB. pMON93506 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has twoT-DNA segments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements,i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNAcontains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguous nucleotidesfrom the 3′ end and ligated to the FATB-1a3′ UTR followed by a FATB-1a5′UTR, a Ricinus communis delta 9 desaturase gene (U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2003/00229918 A1) operably linking to a soybean 7SApromoter and a nos 3′ termination sequence, and a CP4 EPSPS geneoperably linking to an eFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence all flanked by LB and RB. On the same vector, in the secondT-DNA segment, is a H6 3′ termination sequence operably linked to thesoybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to the FATB-1a3′ UTRfollowed by a FATB-1a5′ UTR, flanked by another RB and LB. The resultinggene expression construct is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

When the two T-DNA segments of the above construct are inserted into asingle locus of the chromosome of a host organism in a RB to RBorientation, the assembled transcription unit has a soybean 7Sα′promoter operably linking sense and anti-sense- oriented soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 and FATB-1a DNA fragments. When transcribed, the operablylinked sense and anti-sense oriented RNA sequences are capable offorming double-stranded RNA effective for suppression of FAD2-1A andFATB.

pMON95829 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNAsegments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e.right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA containsa soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1(SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguous nucleotides from the3′ end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a 5′ UTR,followed by the FATB-1achloroplast transit peptide (“CTP”) codingregion, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and apea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence all flanked by AgrobacteriumT-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA(LB). On the same vector in the second T-DNA segment, flanked by anotherRB and LB, is a H6 3′ termination sequence operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides ofa FATB-1a 5′ UTR, followed by the FATB-1achloroplast transit peptide(“CTP”) coding region. The resulting gene expression construct is usedfor transformation using methods as described herein.

When the two T-DNA segments of the above construct are inserted into asingle locus of the chromosome of a host organism in a RB to RBorientation, the assembled transcription unit has a soybean 7Sα′promoter operably linking sense and anti-sense- oriented soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 and FATB-1a DNA fragments. When transcribed, the operablylinked sense and anti-sense oriented RNA sequences are capable offorming double-stranded RNA effective for suppression of FAD2-1A andFATB. pMON97595 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has twoT-DNA segments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements,i.e. right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNAsegment contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides ofa FATB-1a5′ UTR followed by the FATB-1achloroplast transit peptide(“CTP”) coding region, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMVpromoter and a pea rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence, all flanked byAgrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and leftborder DNA (LB). On the second T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB andLB, is a H6 3′ termination sequence operably linked to a soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotidesfrom the 3′ end and ligated to 42 contiguous nucleotides of a FATB-1a5′UTR followed by the FATB-1aCTP coding region. The resulting geneexpression construct is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

When the two T-DNA segments of the above construct are inserted into asingle locus of the chromosome of a host organism in a RB to RBorientation, the assembled transcription unit has a soybean 7Sα′promoter operably linking sense and anti-sense- oriented soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 and FATB-1a DNA fragments. When transcribed, the operablylinked sense and anti-sense oriented RNA sequences are capable offorming double-stranded RNA effective for suppression of FAD2-1A andFATB.

pMON97581 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNAsegments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e.right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segmentcontains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotidesfrom the 3′ end and ligated to the FATB-1achloroplast transit peptide(“CTP”) coding region, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMVpromoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence, all flanked byAgrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and leftborder DNA (LB). On the same construct, in the second T-DNA segment,flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3′ termination sequence operablylinked to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to the FATB-1aCTPcoding region. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

When the two T-DNA segments of the above construct are inserted into asingle locus of the chromosome of a host organism in a RB to RBorientation, the assembled transcription unit has a soybean 7Sα′promoter operably linking sense and anti-sense- oriented soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 and FATB-1a DNA fragments. When transcribed, the operablylinked sense and anti-sense oriented RNA sequences are capable offorming double-stranded RNA effective for suppression of FAD2-1A andFATB.

pMON97596 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNAsegments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e.right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segmentcontains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotidesfrom the 3′ end and ligated to the 5′ 180 bp of the FATB-1achloroplasttransit peptide (“CTP”) coding region , and a CP4 EPSPS gene operablylinking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence, all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. rightborder DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). On the same construct, in thesecond T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3′termination sequence operably linked to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′end and ligated to the 5′ 180bp of the FATB-1aCTP coding region. Theresulting gene expression construct is used for transformation usingmethods as described herein.

When the two T-DNA segments of the above construct are inserted into asingle locus of the chromosome of a host organism in a RB to RBorientation, the assembled transcription unit has a soybean 7Sα′promoter operably linking sense and anti-sense- oriented soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 and FATB-1a DNA fragments. When transcribed, the operablylinked sense and anti-sense oriented RNA sequences are capable offorming double-stranded RNA effective for suppression of FAD2-1A andFATB.

pMON97597 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNAsegments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e.right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segmentcontains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotidesfrom the 3′ end and ligated to the 5′ 120 bp of the FATB-1achloroplasttransit peptide (“CTP”) coding region, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operablylinking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ terminationsequence, all flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. rightborder DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). On the same construct, in thesecond T-DNA segment, flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3′termination sequence operably linked to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQID NO: 1), which is reduced by 320 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′end and ligated to the 5′ 120 bp of the FATB-1aCTP coding region. Theresulting gene expression construct is used for transformation usingmethods as described herein.

When the two T-DNA segments of the above construct are inserted into asingle locus of the chromosome of a host organism in a RB to RBorientation, the assembled transcription unit has a soybean 7Sα′promoter operably linking sense and anti-sense- oriented soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 and FATB-1a DNA fragments. When transcribed, the operablylinked sense and anti-sense oriented RNA sequences are capable offorming double-stranded RNA effective for suppression of FAD2-1A andFATB.

pMON97598 is a construct used for in vivo assembly that has two T-DNAsegments, each flanked by Agrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e.right border DNA (RB) and left border DNA (LB). The first T-DNA segmentcontains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linking to a soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 340 contiguous nucleotidesfrom the 3′ end and ligated to the FATB-1achloroplast transit peptide(“CTP”) coding region, and a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMVpromoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence, all flanked byAgrobacterium T-DNA border elements, i.e. right border DNA (RB) and leftborder DNA (LB). On the same construct, in the second T-DNA segment,flanked by another RB and LB, is a H6 3′ termination sequence operablylinked to a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by340 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end and ligated to the FATB-1aCTPcoding region. The resulting gene expression construct is used fortransformation using methods as described herein.

When the two T-DNA segments of the above construct are inserted into asingle locus of the chromosome of a host organism in a RB to RBorientation, the assembled transcription unit has a soybean 7Sα′promoter operably linking sense and anti-sense- oriented soybean FAD2-1Aintron 1 and FATB-1a DNA fragments. When transcribed, the operablylinked sense and anti-sense oriented RNA sequences are capable offorming double-stranded RNA effective for suppression of FAD2-1A andFATB.

Example 4 Plant Transformation and Analysis

The constructs of Examples 2 and 3 are stably introduced into soybean(for example, Asgrow variety A4922 or Asgrow variety A3244 or Asgrowvariety A3525) by the methods described earlier, including the methodsof McCabe et al., Bio/Technology, 6:923-926 (1988), orAgrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transformed soybean plants areidentified by selection on media containing glyphosate. Fatty acidcompositions are analyzed from seed of soybean lines transformed withthe constructs using gas chromatography. In addition, any of theconstructs may contain other sequences of interest, as well as differentcombinations of promoters.

For some applications, modified fatty acid compositions are detected indeveloping seeds, whereas in other instances, such as for analysis ofoil profile, detection of fatty acid modifications occurring later inthe FAS pathway, or for detection of minor modifications to the fattyacid composition, analysis of fatty acid or oil from mature seeds ispreferred. Furthermore, analysis of oil and/or fatty acid content ofindividual seeds may be desirable, especially in detection of oilmodification in the segregating R₁ seed populations. As used herein, R₀generation indicates the plant arising from transformation/regenerationprotocols described herein, the R1 generation indicates seeds grown onthe selfed transgenic R₀ plant. R1 plants are grown from the R1 seeds.

Fatty acid compositions are determined for the seed of soybean linestransformed with the constructs of Example 3. One to ten seeds of eachof the transgenic and control soybean lines are ground individuallyusing a tissue homogenizer (Pro Scientific) for oil extraction. Oil fromground soybean seed is extracted overnight in 1.5 ml heptane containingtriheptadecanoin (0.50 mg/ml). Aliquots of 200 μl of the extracted oilare derivatized to methyl esters with the addition of 500 μl sodiummethoxide in absolute methanol. The derivatization reaction is allowedto progress for 20 minutes at 50° C. The reaction is stopped by thesimultaneous addition of 500 μl 10% (w/v) sodium chloride and 400 μlheptane. The resulting fatty acid methyl esters extracted in hexane areresolved by gas chromatography (GC) on a Hewlett-Packard model 6890 GC(Palo Alto, Calif.). The GC was fitted with a Supelcowax 250 column (30m, 0.25 mm id, 0.25 micron film thickness) (Supelco, Bellefonte, Pa.).Column temperature is 175° C. at injection and the temperatureprogrammed from 175° C. to 245° C. to 175° C. at 40° C./min. Injectorand detector temperatures are 250° C. and 270° C., respectively.

Example 5 Synthesized Fuel Oil with Improved Biodiesel Properties

A synthesized fuel oil fatty acid composition is prepared having thefollowing mixtures of fatty acid methyl esters: 73.3% oleic acid, 21.4%linoleic acid, 2.2% palmitic acid, 2.1% linolenic acid and 1.0% stearicacid (all by weight). Purified fatty acid methyl esters are obtainedfrom Nu-Chek Prep, Inc., Elysian, Minn., USA. The cetane number andignition delay of this composition is determined by the SouthwestResearch Institute using an Ignition Quality Tester (“IQT”) 613(Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Tex., USA).

An IQT consists of a constant volume combustion chamber that iselectrically heated, a fuel injection system, and a computer that isused to control the experiment, record the data and provideinterpretation of the data. The fuel injection system includes a fuelinjector nozzle that forms an entrance to the combustion chamber. Aneedle lift sensor in the fuel injector nozzle detects fuel flow intothe combustion chamber. A pressure transducer attached to the combustionchamber measures cylinder pressure, the pressure within the combustionchamber. The basic concept of an IQT is measurement of the time from thestart of fuel injection into the combustion chamber to the start ofcombustion. The thermodynamic conditions in the combustion chamber areprecisely controlled to provide consistent measurement of the ignitiondelay time.

For a cetane number and ignition delay test, the test fuel is filteredusing a 5-micron filter. The fuel reservoir, injection line, and nozzleare purged with pressurized nitrogen. The fuel reservoir is then cleanedwith a lint free cloth. A portion of the test fuel is used to flush thefuel reservoir, injection line, and nozzle. The reservoir is filled withthe test fuel and all air is bled from the system. The reservoir ispressurized to 50 psig. The method basically consists of injecting athigh pressure a precisely metered quantity of the test fuel into thecombustion chamber that is charged with air to the desired pressure andtemperature. The measurement consists of determining the time from thestart of injection to the onset of combustion, often referred to as theignition delay time. This determination is based on the measured needlelift and combustion chamber pressures. The normal cetane ratingprocedure calls for setting the skin temperature at 567.5° C. and theair pressure at 2.1 MPa.

A fuel with a known injection delay is run in the IQT combustion bomb atthe beginning of the day to make sure the unit is operating withinnormal parameters. The test synthetic is then run. The known fuel is runagain to verify that the system has not changed. Once the fuel reservoiris reconnected to the fuel injection pump, the test procedure isinitiated on the PC controller. The computer controls all the procedure,including the air charging, fuel injection, and exhaust events. 32repeat combustion events are undertaken.

The ignition delay is the time from the start of injection to the startof ignition. It is determined from the needle lift and cylinder pressuredata. The rise of the injection needle signals start of injection. Thecylinder pressure drops slightly due to the cooling effect of thevaporization of the fuel. Start of combustion is defined as the recoverytime of the cylinder pressure—increases due to combustion to thepressure it was just prior to fuel injection.

The measured ignition delay times are then used to determine the cetanenumber based on a calibration curve that is incorporated into the dataacquisition and reduction software. The calibration curve, consisting ofcetane number as a function of ignition delay time, is generated usingblends of the primary reference fuels and NEG check fuels. In the caseof test fuels that are liquid at ambient conditions, the calibrationcurve is checked on a daily basis using at least one check fuel of knowncetane number (Ryan, “Correlation of Physical and Chemical IgnitionDelay to Cetane Number”, SAE Paper 852103 (1985); Ryan, “Diesel FuelIgnition Quality as Determined in a Constant Volume Combustion Bomb”,SAE Paper 870586 (1986); Ryan, “Development of a Portable Fuel CetaneQuality Monitor”, Belvoir Fuels and Lubricants Research Facility ReportNo. 277, May (1992); Ryan, “Engine and Constant Volume Bomb Studies ofDiesel Ignition and Combustion”, SAE Paper 881616 (1988); and Allard etal., “Diesel Fuel Ignition Quality as Determined in the Ignition QualityTester (“IQT”)”, SAE Paper 961182 (1996)). As shown in Table 3, thesynthesized oil composition exhibits cetane numbers and ignition delaysthat are suitable for use for example, without limitation, as abiodiesel oil.

TABLE 3 Ignition Fuel Test Cetane Std. Dev. Delay Std. Dev. Name NumberNumber Cetane No. (ms) Ign. Delay Check-High¹ 1777 49.55 0.534 4.0090.044 Check-High 1778 49.33 0.611 4.028 0.051 Average 49.4 4.02Synthesized Oil 1779 55.02 1.897 3.622 0.116 Synthesized Oil 1780 55.651.807 3.583 0.109 Synthesized Oil 1781 55.63 1.649 3.583 0.098 Average55.4 3.60 Check-High 1786 49.2 0.727 4.04 0.061 ¹The fuel called“Check-High” is a calibration fuel. It should have a cetane number of49.3 ± 0.5. The unit is checked with the calibration before and afterrunning the synthetic test fuel.

The density (ASTM D-4052) cloud point (ASTM D-2500), pour point (ASTMD-97), and cold filter plugging point (IP 309/ASTM D-6371) aredetermined for the synthesized oil using ASTM D protocols. ASTM Dprotocols are obtained from ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, WestConshohocken, Pa., USA. The results of these tests are set forth inTable 4. As shown in Table 4, the synthesized oil composition exhibitsnumbers that are suitable for use as, for example without limitation, asa biodiesel oil.

TABLE 4 TEST METHOD RESULTS Density ASTM D-4052 0.8791 g/mL Cloud PointASTM D-2500 −18 deg. C. Pour Point ASTM D-97 −21 deg. C. Cold FilterPlugging IP 309 (same as ASTM D-6371) −21 deg. C. Point

Levels of nitric oxide emissions are estimated by evaluating theunsaturation levels of a biologically-based fuel, by measuring the fueldensity and indirectly calculating the estimated emissions levels, or bydirectly measuring. There are also standard protocols available fordirectly measuring levels of nitric oxide emissions. The synthesized oilis estimated to have lower nitric oxide emissions levels than methylesters of fatty acids made from conventional soybean oil based on anevaluation of the overall level of unsaturation in the synthesized oil.Oils containing larger numbers of double bonds, i.e., having a higherdegree of unsaturation, tend to produce higher nitric oxide emissions.The oil has a total of 123 double bonds, as compared to conventionalsoybean oil's total of 153 double bonds, as shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 SYNTHETIC OIL 73% oleic acid (18:1) × 1 double bond = 73 22%linoleic acid (18:2) × 2 double bonds = 44  2% linolenic acid (18:3) × 3double bonds = 6 TOTAL double bonds 123 CONVENTIONAL SOYBEAN OIL 23%oleic acid (18:1) × 1 double bond = 23 53% linoleic acid (18:2) × 2double bonds = 106  8% linolenic acid (18:3) × 3 double bonds = 24 TOTALdouble bonds 153

As reported by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Contract No.ACG-8- 17106-02 Final Report, The Effect Of Biodiesel Composition OnEngine Emissions From A DDC Series 60 Diesel Engine, (June 2000), nitricacid emissions of biodiesel compositions are predicted by the formulay=46.959x−36.388 where y is the oxide emissions in grams/brake horsepower hours; and x is the density of biodiesel. The formula is based ona regression analysis of nitric acid emission data in a test involving16 biodiesel fuels. The test makes use of a 1991 calibration, productionseries 60 model Detroit Diesel Corporation engine.

The density of the synthesized oil is determined by Southwest ResearchInstitute using the method ASTM D4052. The result shown in Table 4 isused in the above equation to predict a nitric oxide emission value of4.89 g/bhp-h. This result is compared to a control soybean product. TheNational Renewable Energy Laboratory report gives the density and nitricoxide emissions of a control soy based biodiesel (methyl soy ester IGT).The density of the control biodiesel is 0.8877 g/mL, giving a calculatednitric oxide emission of 5.30 g/bhp-h. This calculated emission value issimilar to the experimental value for nitric oxide emission of 5.32g/bhp-h. The synthesized oil composition exhibits improved numberscompared to the control and is suitable for use, for example withoutlimitation, as a biodiesel oil.

Example 6 Optimum Fatty Acid Composition for Healthy Serum Lipid Levels

The cholesterol lowering properties of vegetable compositions aredetermined to identify fatty acid compositions that have a morefavorable effect on serum lipid levels than conventional soybean oil(i.e., lower LDL-cholesterol and higher HDL-cholesterol). Publishedequations based on 27 clinical trials (Mensink, R. P. and Katan, M. B.Arteriosclerosis and Thrombosis, 12:911-919 (1992)) are used to comparethe effects on serum lipid levels in humans of new oilseed compositionswith that of normal soybean oil.

Table 6 below presents the results of the change in serum lipid levelswhere 30% of dietary energy from carbohydrate is substituted by lipids.The results show that soybean oil already has favorable effects on serumlipids when it replaces carbohydrates in the diet. Improvements on thiscomposition are possible by lowering saturated fat levels and byobtaining a linoleic acid level between 10-30% of the total fatty acids,preferably about 15-25% of the total fatty acids. When the proportion oflinoleic acid is less than 10% of the total fatty acids, the newcomposition raises LDL-cholesterol compared to control soybean oil, eventhough the saturated fat content is lowered to 5% of the total fattyacids. When the proportion of linoleic acid is increased, the ability ofthe composition to raise serum HDL levels is reduced. Therefore, thepreferred linoleic acid composition is determined to be about 15-25% ofthe total fatty acids.

TABLE 6 Fatty acids Other Serum C16:0 C18:0 C18:1 C18:2 C18:3 (C20:1)Lipids Soy control (%) 11.000 4.000 23.400 53.200 7.800 0.600 Proportionof 30% fat E (%) 3.300 1.200 7.020 15.960 2.340 0.180 LDL Calculation(mg/dl) 4.224 1.536 1.685 8.778 1.287 0.043 −6.033 HDL Calc (mg/dl)1.551 0.564 2.387 4.469 0.655 0.061 9.687 3% 18:2, <6% sat (%) 3.0002.000 85.000 3.000 3.000 4.000 Proportion of 30% fat E (%) 0.900 0.60025.500 0.900 0.900 1.200 LDL Calculation (mg/dl) 1.152 0.768 6.120 0.4950.495 0.288 −5.478 vs. control (mg/dl) 0.555 HDL calculation (mg/dl)0.423 0.282 8.670 0.252 0.252 0.408 10.287 vs. control (mg/dl) 0.600 10%18:2, <6% sat (%) 3.000 2.000 72.000 10.000 3.000 10.000 Proportion of30% fat E (%) 0.900 0.600 21.600 3.000 0.900 3.000 LDL Calculation(mg/dl) 1.152 0.768 5.184 1.650 0.495 0.720 −6.129 vs. control (mg/dl)−0.096 HDL calculation (mg/dl) 0.423 0.282 7.344 0.840 0.252 1.02010.161 vs. control (mg/dl) 0.474 20% 18:2, <6% sat (%) 3.000 2.00065.000 20.000 3.000 7.000 Proportion of 30% fat E (%) 0.900 0.600 19.5006.000 0.900 2.100 LDL Calculation (mg/dl) 1.152 0.768 4.680 3.300 0.4950.504 −7.059 vs. control (mg/dl) −1.026 HDL calculation (mg/dl) 0.4230.282 6.630 1.680 0.252 0.714 9.981 vs. control (mg/dl) 0.294 21% 18:2,<3.2% sat (%) 2.000 1.000 72.000 21.000 1.000 3.000 Proportion of 30%fat E (%) 0.600 0.300 21.600 6.300 0.300 0.900 LDL Calculation (mg/dl)0.768 0.384 5.184 3.465 0.165 0.216 −7.878 vs. control (mg/dl) −1.845HDL calculation (mg/dl) 0.282 0.141 7.344 1.764 0.084 0.306 9.921 vs.control (mg/dl) 0.234 30% 18:2, <6% sat (%) 3.000 2.000 57.000 30.0003.000 5.000 Proportion of 30% fat E (%) 0.900 0.600 17.100 9.000 0.9001.500 LDL Calculation (mg/dl) 1.152 0.768 4.104 4.950 0.495 0.360 −7.989vs. control (mg/dl) −1.956 HDL calculation (mg/dl) 0.423 0.282 5.8142.520 0.252 0.510 9.801 vs. control (mg/dl) 0.114

Example 7

The following fourteen steps illustrate the construction of vectorpMON68537 designed for plant transformation to suppress FAD2, FAD3, andFATB genes and overexpress delta-9 desaturase in soybean. In particular,the construct comprises a 7S alpha promoter operably linked to soybeansense-oriented intron and 3′UTRs, i.e., a FAD2-1A intron #1, a FAD3-1A3′UTR, a FATB-1 3′UTR, a hairpin loop-forming spliceable intron, and acomplementary series of soybean anti-sense-oriented intron and 3′UTR's,i.e., a FATB-1 3′UTR, a FAD3-1A 3′UTR and a FAD2-1A intron #1 and thesoybean FAD2 promoter driving the delta-9 desaturase.

Step1—The soybean FAD3-1A intron #5, which serves as the spliceableintron portion of the dsRNAi construct, is PCR amplified using soybeangenomic DNA as template, with the following primers:

5′ primer = 19037 = ACTAGTATATTGAGCTCATATTCCACTGCAGTGGATATTGTTTAAACATAGCTAGCATATTACGCGTATATTATACAAGCTTATATTCCCGGGATATTGTCGACATATTAGCGGTACATTTTATTGCTTA TTCAC 3′ primer =19045 = ACTAGTATATTGAGCTCATATTCCTGCAGGATATTCTCGAGATATTCACGGTAGTAATCTCCAAGAACTGGTTTTGCTGC TTGTGTCTGCAGTGAATC.

These primers add cloning sites to the 5′ and 3′ ends. To 5′ end: SpeI,SacI, BstXI, PmeI, NheI, MluI, HindIII, XmaI, SmaI, SalI. To 3′ end:SpeI, SacI, Sse83871, XhoI. The soybean FAD3-1A intron #5 PCR product iscloned into pCR2.1, resulting in KAWHIT03.0065. KAWHIT03.0065 is thendigested with SpeI and the ends are filled with Pfu polymerase andpMON68526 (empty chloramphenicol (hereinafter CM) resistant vector) isdigested with HindIII and the ends are filled with Pfu polymerase.KAWHIT03.0065 and pMON68526 are then ligated to create pMON68541(soybean FAD3-1A intron #5 with multiple cloning sites in Amp resistantvector).

Step 2—The soybean FATB-1 3′UTR is amplified with the following primers:18662=TTTTAATTACAATGAGAATGAGATTTACTGC (adding Bsp120I to the 5′ end) and18661=GGGCCCGATTTGAAATGGTTAACG. The PCR product is then ligated intopCR2.1 to make KAWHIT03.0036.

Step 3—KAWHIT03.0036 is then digested with Bsp120I and EcoRI and thencloned into KAWHIT03.0032 (empty CM resistant vector with a multiplecloning site) to make KAWHIT03.0037 (FATB-1 3′UTR in empty CM resistantvector).

Step 4—The soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR is amplified with the followingprimers: 18639=GGGCCCGTTTCAAACTTTTTGG (adding Bsp120I to the 5′ end) and18549=TGAAACTGACAATTCAA. The PCR product is then ligated into pCR2. 1 tomake KAWHIT03.0034.

Step 5—KAWHIT03.0034 is digested with Bsp120I and EcoRI and then ligatedinto KAWHIT03.0032 (empty CM resistant vector with a multiple cloningsite) to make KAWHIT03.0035 (FAD3-1A 3′UTR in empty CM resistantvector).

Step 6—The soybean FAD 2-1A intron #1 is PCR amplified using soybeangenomic DNA as template, with the following primers: 5′primer=18663=GGGCCCGGTAAATTAAATTGTGC (Adding Bsp120I site to 5′ end);and 3′ primer=18664=CTGTGTCAAAGTATAAACAAGTTCAG. The resulting PCRproduct is cloned into pCR 2.1 creating KAWHITO3.0038.

Step 7—Soybean FAD 2-1A intron #1 PCR product in KAWHIT03.0038 is clonedinto KAWHIT03.0032 (empty CM resistant vector with a multiple cloningsite) using the restriction sites Bsp120I and EcoRI. The resultingplasmid is KAWHIT03.0039 (soybean FAD 2-1A intron #1 in empty CMresistant vector).

Step 8—KAWHIT03.0039 is digested with AscI and HindIII and pMON68541(FAD3-1A intron #5 dsRNAi AMP resistant base vector) is digested withMluI and HindIII. The soybean FAD 2-1A intron #1 is then directionallycloned into pMON68541 to generate KAWHIT03.0071 (soybean FAD2-1A intron#1 with soybean FAD3-1A intron #5).

Step 9—KAWHIT03.0035 (FAD3-1A 3′UTR in CM resistant vector) is digestedwith AscI and HindIII and KAWHIT03.0071 (FAD2-1A intron and FAD3-1Aintron #5 dsRNAi AMP resistant base vector) is digested with MluI andHindIII. The soybean FAD 3-1A 3′UTR is then directionally cloned intoKAWHIT03.0071 to generate KAWHIT03.0072 (soybean FAD2-1A intron #1 andFAD3-1A 3′UTR with soybean FAD3-1A intron #5).

Step 10—KAWHIT03.0037 (FA7B-1 3′UTR in CM resistant vector) is digestedwith AscI and HindIII and KAWHIT03.0072 is digested with MluI andHindIII. The FATB-1 3′UTR is then directionally cloned intoKAWHIT03.0072 to make KAWHIT03.0073 (soybean FAD2-1A intron, FAD3-1A3′UTR, FA7B-1 3′UTR with FAD3-1A intron #5).

Step 11—KAWHIT03.0073 is digested with BstXI and SalI and the fragmentcontaining FAD2-1A intron, FAD3-1A 3′UTR and FATB-1 3′UTR is gelpurified. In a different tube KAWHIT03.0073 is digested with XhoI andSse8387I. The intron/3′UTR fragment is then cloned back intoKAWHIT03.0073 in the opposite orientation on the other site of soybeanFAD3-1A intron #5 to create KAWHIT03.0074 (soybean FAD2-1A intron #1sense, soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR sense, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR sense, soybean,spliceable soybean FAD3-1A intron #5, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR anti-sense,soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR anti-sense, soybean FAD2-1A intron #1 anti-sense).

Step 12—To link the dsRNAi construct to the 7S alpha′ promoter and theTML 3′, KAWHIT03.0074 and pMON68527 (7Sa′/TML3′ cassette) are digestedwith SacI and ligated together to make pMON68563 (7S alpha′promoter—FAD2-1A intron #1 sense, soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR sense, soybeanFATB-1 3′UTR sense, spliceable soybean soybean FATB-1 3′UTR anti-sense,soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR anti-sense, soybean FAD2-1A intron #1anti-sense-TML3′).

Step 13—To introduce the assembled dsRNAi construct into pMON70682,pMON68563 and pMON70682 are digested with NotI and ligated together toform pMON68536 comprising a 7S alpha′ promoter operably linked to thedouble-stranded-RNA-forming construct of FAD2-1A intron #1 sense,soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR sense, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR sense, spliceablesoybean FAD3-1A intron #5, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR anti-sense, soybeanFAD3-1A 3′UTR anti-sense, soybean FAD2-1A intron #1 anti-sense and TML3′terminator).

Step 14—pMON68536 is then digested with AscI and RsrII and pMON68529(which contains the selectable marker CP4 fused to the FMV promoter andthe RBCS 3′ and the soybean FAD2 promoter driving the delta 9desaturase) is digested with SanDI and AscI. The dsRNAi portion ofpMON68536 is then directionally cloned into pMON68529 to createpMON68537 (7S alpha′ promoter operably linked to thedouble-stranded-RNA-forming construct of FAD2-1A intron #1 sense,soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR sense, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR sense, spliceablesoybean FAD3-1A intron #5, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR anti-sense, soybeanFAD3-1A 3′UTR anti-sense, soybean FAD2-1A intron #1 anti-sense and TML3′terminator and soybean FAD2 promoter driving the delta 9 desaturase).

Example 8

The following fifteen steps illustrate the construction of vectorpMON68539 (FIG. 22) designed for plant transformation to suppress FAD2,FAD3, and FATB genes and over-express delta-9 desaturase and the KASIVenzyme in soybean. In particular, the construct comprises a 7S alphapromoter operably linked to soybean sense-oriented intron and 3′UTRs,i.e., a FAD2-1A intron #1, a FAD3-1A 3′UTR, a FATB-1 3′UTR, a hairpinloop-forming spliceable intron, and a complementary series of soybeananti-sense-oriented intron and 3′UTR's, i.e., a FATB-1 3′UTR, a FAD3-1A3′UTR and a FAD2-1A intron #1, the soybean FAD2 promoter driving thedelta-9 desaturase, and the Napin promoter driving KASIV.

Step1—The soybean FAD3-1A intron #5, which serves as the spliceableintron portion of the dsRNAi construct, is PCR amplified using soybeangenomic DNA as template, with the following primers:

5′ primer = 19037 = ACTAGTATATTGAGCTCATATTCCACTGCAGTGGATATTGTTTAAACATAGCTAGCATATTACGCGTATATTATACAAGCTTATATTCCCGGGATATTGTCGACATATTAGCGGTACATTTTATTGCTTA TTCAC 3′ primer =19045 = ACTAGTATATTGAGCTCATATTCCTGCAGGATATTCTCGAGATATTCACGGTAGTAATCTCCAAGAACTGGTTTTGCTGC TTGTGTCTGCAGTGAATC.

These primers add cloning sites to the 5′ and 3′ ends. To 5′ end: SpeI,SacI, BstXI, PmeI, NheI, MluI, HindIII, XmaI, SmaI, SaIII. To 3′ end:SpeI, SacI, Sse8387I, XhoI. The soybean FAD3-1A intron #5 PCR product iscloned into pCR2.1, resulting in KAWHIT03.0065. KAWHIT03.0065 is thendigested with SpeI and the ends are filled with Pfu polymerase andpMON68526 (empty CM resistant vector) is digested with HindIII and theends are filled with Pfu polymerase. KAWHIT03.0065 and pMON68526 areligated to create pMON68541 (soybean FAD3-1A intron #5 with multiplecloning sites in Amp resistant vector).

Step 2—The soybean FATB-1 3′UTR is amplified with the following primers:18662=TTTTAATTACAATGAGAATGAGATTTACTGC (adding Bsp120I to the 5′ end) and18661=GGGCCCGATTTGAAATGGTTAACG. The PCR product is then ligated intopCR2.1 to make KAWHIT03.0036.

Step 3—KAWHIT03.0036 is then digested with Bsp120I and EcoRI and thencloned into the KAWHITO3.0032 (empty CM resistant vector with a multiplecloning site) to make KAWHIT03.0037 (FATB-1 3′UTR in empty CM resistantvector).

Step 4—The soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR is amplified with the followingprimers: 18639=GGGCCCGTTTCAAACTTTTTGG (adding Bsp120I to the 5′ end) and18549=TGAAACTGACAATTCAA. The PCR product is then ligated into pCR2.1 tomake KAWHITO3.0034.

Step 5—KAWHIT03.0034 is digested with Bsp120I and EcoRI and then ligatedinto KAWHIT03.0032 (empty CM resistant vector with a multiple cloningsite) to make KAWHIT03.0035 (FAD3-1A 3′UTR in empty CM resistantvector).

Step 6—The soybean FAD 2-1A intron #1 is PCR amplified using soybeangenomic DNA as template, with the following primers: 5′primer=18663=GGGCCCGGTAAATTAAATTGTGC (Adding Bsp120I site to 5′ end);and 3′ primer=18664=CTGTGTCAAAGTATAAACAAGTTCAG. The resulting PCRproduct is cloned into pCR 2.1 creating KAWHIT03.0038.

Step 7—Soybean FAD 2-1A intron #1 PCR product in KAWHIT03.0038 is clonedinto KAWHIT03.0032 (empty CM resistant vector with a multiple cloningsite) using the restriction sites Bsp120I and EcoRI. The resultingplasmid is KAWHIT03.0039 (soybean FAD 2-1A intron #1 in empty CMresistant vector).

Step 8—KAWHIT03.0039 is digested with AscI and HindIII and pMON68541(FAD3-1A intron #5 dsRNAi AMP resistant base vector) is digested withMluI and HindIII. The soybean FAD 2-1A intron #1 is then directionallycloned into pMON68541 (FAD3-1A intron #5 in Amp resistant vector withmultiple cloning sites) to generate KAWHIT03.0071 (soybean FAD2-1Aintron #1 with soybean FAD3-1A intron #5).

Step 9—KAWHIT03.0035 (FAD3-1A 3′UTR in CM resistant vector) is digestedwith AscI and HindIII and KAWHIT03.0071 (FAD2-1A intron and FAD3-1Aintron #5 dsRNAi AMP resistant base vector) is digested with MluI andHindIII. The soybean FAD 3-1A 3′UTR is then directionally cloned intoKAWHIT03.0071 to generate KAWHIT03.0072 (soybean FAD2-1A intron #1 andFAD3-1A 3′UTR with soybean FAD3-1A intron #5).

Step 10—KAWHIT03.0037 (FATB-1 3′UTR in CM resistant vector) is digestedwith AscI and HindIII and KAWHIT03.0072 is digested with MluI andHindIII. The FATB-1 3′UTR is then directionally cloned intoKAWHIT03.0072 to make KAWHIT03.0073 (soybean FAD2-1A intron, FAD3-1A3′UTR, FATB-1 3′UTR with FAD3-1A intron #5).

Step 11—KAWHIT03.0073 is digested with BstXI and SalI and the fragmentcontaining FAD2-1A intron, FAD3-1A 3′UTR and FATB-1 3′UTR is gelpurified. In a different tube KAWHIT03.0073 is digested with XhoI andSse83871. The Intron/3′UTR fragment is then cloned back intoKAWHIT03.0073 in the opposite orientation on the other site of soybeanFAD3-1A intron #5 to create KAWHIT03.0074 (soybean FAD2-1A intron #1sense, soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR sense, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR sense, soybean,spliceable soybean FAD3-1A intron #5, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR anti-sense,soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR anti-sense, soybean FAD2-1A intron #1 anti-sense).

Step 12—To link the dsRNAi construct to the 7S alpha′ promoter and theTML 3′, KAWHIT03.0074 and pMON68527 (7Sa′/TML3′ cassette) are digestedwith SacI and ligated together to make pMON68563 (7S alpha′promoter—FAD2-1A intron #1 sense, soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR sense, soybeanFATB-1 3′UTR sense, spliceable soybean soybean FATB-1 3′UTR anti-sense,soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR anti-sense, soybean FAD2-1A intron #1anti-sense-TML3′).

Step 13—To introduce the assembled dsRNAi construct into pMON70682,pMON68563 and pMON70682 are digested with NotI and ligated together toform pMON68536 comprising a 7S alpha′ promoter operably linked to thedouble-stranded-RNA-forming construct of FAD2-1A intron #1 sense,soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR sense, soybean FATB-1 3′UTRsense, spliceablesoybean FAD3-1A intron #5, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR anti-sense, soybeanFAD3-1A 3′UTR anti-sense, soybean FAD2-1A intron #1 anti-sense and TML3′terminator).

Step 14—pMON68536 is then digested with AscI and RsrII and pMON68529(which contains the selectable marker CP4 fused to the FMV promoter andthe RBCS 3′ and the soybean FAD2 promoter driving the delta 9desaturase) is digested with SanDI and AscI. The dsRNAi portion ofpMON68536 is then directionally cloned into pMON68529 to createpMON68537 (7S alpha′ promoter operably linked to thedouble-stranded-RNA-forming construct of FAD2-1A intron #1 sense,soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR sense, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR sense, spliceablesoybean FAD3-1A intron #5, soybean FATB-1 3′UTR anti-sense, soybeanFAD3-1A 3′UTR anti-sense, soybean FAD2-1A intron #1 anti-sense and TML3′terminator and soybean FAD2 promoter driving the delta 9 desaturase.

Step 15—pMON68537 is then digested with SanDI and AscI and pMON70683(Napin driving KasIV) is digested with AscI and RsrII. The Napin/KasIVfragment is directionally cloned into pMON68537 to create pMON68539 (7Salpha′ promoter operably linked to the double-stranded-RNA-formingconstruct of FAD2-1A intron #1 sense, soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR sense,soybean FATB-1 3′UTRsense, spliceable soybean FAD3-1A intron #5, soybeanFATB-1 3′UTR anti-sense, soybean FAD3-1A 3′UTR anti-sense, soybeanFAD2-1A intron #1 anti-sense and TML3′ terminator, soybean FAD2 promoterdriving the delta 9 desaturase and Napin promoter driving KasIV.

Example 9

This example illustrates plant transformation to produce soybean plantswith suppressed genes.

A transformation vector pMON68537 as prepared in Example 7 is used tointroduce an intron/3′UTR double-stranded RNA-forming construct intosoybean for suppressing the Δ12 desaturase, Δ15 desaturase, and FATBgenes. Vector pMON68537 also contains the delta-9 desaturase (FAB2) andthe CP4 genes. The vector is stably introduced into soybean (Asgrowvariety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI (Martinell, U.S.Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allows transformedsoybean plants to be identified by selection on media containingglyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with the intron/3′UTR dsRNAi expression constructs using gaschromatography. R₁ pooled seed and R₁ single seed oil compositionsdemonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid compositionsare altered in the oil of seeds from transgenic soybean lines ascompared to that of the seed from non-transformed soybean, (See Table7). For instance, FAD2 suppression provides plants with increased amountof oleic acid ester compounds; FAD3 suppression provides plants withdecreased linolenic acid ester compounds; and FATB suppression providesplants with reduced saturated fatty ester compounds, e.g. palmitates andstearates. Selections can be made from such lines depending on thedesired relative fatty acid composition. Fatty acid compositions areanalyzed from seed of soybean lines transformed with constructs usinggas chromatography.

Example 10

This example illustrates plant transformation to produce soybean plantswith suppressed genes.

A transformation vector pMON68539 as prepared in Example 3 is used tointroduce an intron/3′UTR double-stranded RNA-forming construct intosoybean for suppressing the Δ12 desaturase, Δ15 desaturase, and FATBgenes. Vector pMON68539 also contains the KasIV and the CP4 genes. Thevector is stably introduced into soybean (Asgrow variety A4922) viaAgrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI (Martinell, U.S. Pat. No.6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allows transformed soybean plantsto be identified by selection on media containing glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with the intron/3′UTR dsRNAi expression constructs using gaschromatography. R₁ pooled seed and R₁ single seed oil compositionsdemonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid compositionswere altered in the oil of seeds from transgenic soybean lines ascompared to that of the seed from non-transformed soybean (See Table 8).For example, FAD2 suppression provides plants with increased oleic acidester compounds; FAD3 suppression provides plants with decreasedlinolenic acid ester compounds; and FATB suppression provides plantswith reduced saturated fatty ester compounds, e.g. palmitates andstearates. Selections can be made from such lines depending on thedesired relative fatty acid composition. Fatty acid compositions areanalyzed from seed of soybean lines transformed with constructs usinggas chromatography.

TABLE 7 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON68537 EventsConstruct Event 18:1 18:3 16:0 18:0 18:2 PMON68537 GM_A36305 74.92 4.426.35 2.93 10.24 PMON68537 GM_A36305 74.8 4.33 6.57 2.93 10.23 PMON68537GM_A36305 74.43 3.95 5.98 2.82 11.81 PMON68537 GM_A36305 73.32 3.99 6.793.24 11.48 PMON68537 GM_A36305 72.87 4.33 7.06 3.08 11.7 PMON68537GM_A36305 16.63 9.53 13.5 4.06 55.31 PMON68537 GM_A36305 16.52 9.6113.92 4.24 54.79 PMON68537 GM_A36305 15.67 9.66 13.64 4.19 55.89PMON68537 GM_A36306 77.45 3.93 6.76 2.47 8.4 PMON68537 GM_A36306 74.514.38 6.58 2.47 10.94 PMON68537 GM_A36306 73.21 4.64 7.04 3.08 11.04PMON68537 GM_A36306 72.78 4.4 6.97 2.55 12.21 PMON68537 GM_A36306 71.674.76 6.94 3.25 12.2 PMON68537 GM_A36306 71.01 4.86 7.64 3.05 12.41PMON68537 GM_A36306 69.72 4.76 7.66 2.95 13.75 PMON68537 GM_A36306 17.418.88 13.35 3.85 55.63 PMON68537 GM_A36307 77.22 3.71 6.8 2.77 8.5PMON68537 GM_A36307 76.79 3.65 6.76 2.85 8.75 PMON68537 GM_A36307 71.444.54 7.2 3.58 12.17 PMON68537 GM_A36307 18.83 8.62 13.94 4.02 53.61PMON68537 GM_A36307 18.81 8.38 13.27 3.7 54.97 PMON68537 GM_A36307 15.689.97 14.06 4.55 54.79 PMON68537 GM_A36307 15.28 10.64 14.68 4.43 53.97PMON68537 GM_A36307 14.08 9.36 14.39 4.31 56.89 PMON68537 GM_A3630978.67 3.53 6.09 2.5 8.18 PMON68537 GM_A36309 75.43 3.96 6.7 2.53 10.3PMON68537 GM_A36309 71.41 4.19 6.92 2.74 13.67 PMON68537 GM_A36309 70.514.14 6.85 3.16 14.33 PMON68537 GM_A36309 67.51 5.01 7.45 3.15 15.69PMON68537 GM_A36309 66.99 4.92 7.15 3.9 15.79 PMON68537 GM_A36309 20.098.46 12.41 5 52.97 PMON68537 GM_A36309 15.15 9.73 14.61 3.85 55.79PMON68537 GM_A36310 74.28 4.77 7.31 1.85 10.9 PMON68537 GM_A36310 74.035.43 8.23 1.63 9.66 PMON68537 GM_A36310 73.07 5.09 7.37 1.76 11.75PMON68537 GM_A36310 71.83 5.04 7.78 1.86 12.54 PMON68537 GM_A36310 68.016.26 9.8 1.97 13.13 PMON68537 GM_A36310 67.22 6.28 8.71 3.28 13.45PMON68537 GM_A36310 65.37 6.87 10.01 1.94 14.9 PMON68537 GM_A36310 15.7610.09 13.4 4.28 55.52 PMON68537 GM_A36311 77.87 3.56 5.9 2.46 9.05PMON68537 GM_A36311 75.8 3.87 5.91 2.93 10.22 PMON68537 GM_A36311 75.613.71 6.21 2.56 10.75 PMON68537 GM_A36311 73.68 4.06 6 3.09 11.98PMON68537 GM_A36311 72.66 4.11 6.41 3.14 12.48 PMON68537 GM_A36311 70.894.39 6.52 3.11 13.93 PMON68537 GM_A36311 70.82 3.97 6.52 3.18 14.29PMON68537 GM_A36311 16.67 9.39 13.65 4.44 54.77 PMON68537 GM_A3631278.32 4.3 6.36 1.79 8.16 PMON68537 GM_A36312 77.55 4.46 6.51 2.13 8.23PMON68537 GM_A36312 77.43 4.17 6.31 1.81 9.24 PMON68537 GM_A36312 76.984.29 6.25 2.27 9.05 PMON68537 GM_A36312 76.43 4.55 6.82 2.16 8.96PMON68537 GM_A36312 76.38 4.5 6.46 2.04 9.54 PMON68537 GM_A36312 75.254.27 6.41 1.97 11.06 PMON68537 GM_A36312 18.24 9.43 13.6 3.07 54.75PMON68537 GM_A36313 80.18 4.07 6.17 2.59 5.85 PMON68537 GM_A36313 79.964.16 6.03 2.59 6.11 PMON68537 GM_A36313 78.88 3.9 5.6 2.8 7.65 PMON68537GM_A36313 78.76 3.92 5.44 2.91 7.82 PMON68537 GM_A36313 77.64 4.22 5.882.9 8.25 PMON68537 GM_A36313 76.15 4.14 6.06 3.13 9.42 PMON68537GM_A36313 19.05 8.87 13.45 3.71 54.03 PMON68537 GM_A36313 18.47 8.4613.13 3.63 55.41 PMON68537 GM_A36314 80.27 3.17 5.77 3.4 6.03 PMON68537GM_A36314 79.66 3.24 5.72 3.19 6.91 PMON68537 GM_A36314 79.5 3.45 5.833.23 6.74 PMON68537 GM_A36314 77.42 3.52 5.76 3.57 8.42 PMON68537GM_A36314 77.33 3.71 6.36 3.34 8.01 PMON68537 GM_A36314 76.83 3.71 6.383.24 8.59 PMON68537 GM_A36314 16.6 9.3 12.63 4.43 55.99 PMON68537GM_A36314 15.26 8.59 13.71 4.54 56.84 PMON68537 GM_A36315 20.21 8.2513.61 3.59 53.37 PMON68537 GM_A36315 17.47 9.22 13.46 3.35 55.57PMON68537 GM_A36315 16.75 9.3 13.61 3.66 55.75 PMON68537 GM_A36315 16.549.18 13.54 3.88 55.9 PMON68537 GM_A36315 16.06 10.07 13.44 4.01 55.42PMON68537 GM_A36315 16.05 9.58 12.82 4.25 56.29 PMON68537 GM_A3631515.95 10.42 13.12 3.63 55.91 PMON68537 GM_A36315 15.5 10.22 13.25 3.7856.3 PMON68537 GM_A36316 79.61 3.56 5.79 2.94 6.87 PMON68537 GM_A3631675.11 4.01 6.45 3.44 9.76 PMON68537 GM_A36316 75.07 4.25 6.74 3.09 9.64PMON68537 GM_A36316 73.92 3.97 6.53 3.56 10.75 PMON68537 GM_A36316 17.269.59 13.1 4.26 54.78 PMON68537 GM_A36316 17.15 9.03 12.81 4.04 55.97PMON68537 GM_A36316 16.62 9.2 13.15 3.99 56.03 PMON68537 GM_A36316 16.69.44 13.19 3.95 55.84 PMON68537 GM_A36317 18.96 7.55 13.2 3.75 55.51PMON68537 GM_A36317 16.19 9.43 13.33 3.96 56.04 PMON68537 GM_A3631716.05 9.1 14.02 3.94 55.91 PMON68537 GM_A36317 15.33 9.4 13.91 4.2256.11 PMON68537 GM_A36317 15.28 9.2 13.87 4.27 56.36 PMON68537 GM_A3631714.58 10.15 13.74 4.38 56.15 PMON68537 GM_A36317 13.95 9.47 13.98 4.7656.79 PMON68537 GM_A36317 13.91 9.88 14.26 4.62 56.25 PMON68537GM_A36318 78.82 3.64 5.7 2.77 7.87 PMON68537 GM_A36318 77.94 3.73 5.92.94 8.29 PMON68537 GM_A36318 75.18 4.11 6.08 3.48 9.95 PMON68537GM_A36318 75.1 3.93 6.02 3.04 10.75 PMON68537 GM_A36318 75.01 4.22 6.573.29 9.72 PMON68537 GM_A36318 74.17 4.2 6.51 3.27 10.68 PMON68537GM_A36318 73.47 4.27 6.7 3.22 11.16 PMON68537 GM_A36318 30.57 10.5414.83 5.55 36.92 PMON68537 GM_A36319 80 3.65 5.83 2.31 7.02 PMON68537GM_A36319 79.89 3.65 5.64 2.35 7.26 PMON68537 GM_A36319 79.4 3.59 5.731.76 8.46 PMON68537 GM_A36319 78 3.87 6.11 2.35 8.5 PMON68537 GM_A3631976.08 4.22 6.5 2.35 9.74 PMON68537 GM_A36319 75.56 3.89 6.41 1.78 11.3PMON68537 GM_A36319 75.26 4.27 6.47 2.37 10.5 PMON68537 GM_A36319 75.164.1 6.48 2.49 10.66 PMON68537 GM_A36320 81.27 3.19 5.84 2.4 6.09PMON68537 GM_A36320 80.21 3.27 5.18 2.44 7.76 PMON68537 GM_A36320 79.643.38 5.5 2.67 7.63 PMON68537 GM_A36320 79.46 3.38 5.82 2.67 7.42PMON68537 GM_A36320 78.5 3.59 6.24 2.49 8 PMON68537 GM_A36320 73.83 3.796.72 2.78 11.74 PMON68537 GM_A36320 73.1 3.95 6.9 2.39 12.48 PMON68537GM_A36320 22.99 8.03 12.19 4.81 50.89 PMON68537 GM_A36324 75.93 3.776.58 2.76 9.76 PMON68537 GM_A36324 75.1 4.05 7.01 2.83 9.8 PMON68537GM_A36324 17.83 8.79 12.78 4.11 55.49 PMON68537 GM_A36324 16.46 8.8812.84 4.48 56.29 PMON68537 GM_A36324 16.35 9.25 13.51 4.17 55.66PMON68537 GM_A36324 15.25 8.99 13.73 4.28 56.69 PMON68537 GM_A3632414.16 10.17 13.95 4.11 56.58 PMON68537 GM_A36324 13.59 9.87 14.61 4.556.33 PMON68537 GM_A36357 80.19 3.03 5.59 3.2 6.62 PMON68537 GM_A3635779.78 3.19 5.51 3.24 6.89 PMON68537 GM_A36357 78.5 3.55 5.75 3.17 7.71PMON68537 GM_A36357 77.48 3.68 5.71 3.55 8.23 PMON68537 GM_A36357 77.283.79 5.66 3.48 8.46 PMON68537 GM_A36357 77.1 3.51 5.43 3.65 8.99PMON68537 GM_A36357 71.9 4.24 6.47 3.67 12.39 PMON68537 GM_A36357 17.669.32 13.26 4.21 54.51 PMON68537 GM_A36359 77.91 3.35 5.67 3.24 8.53PMON68537 GM_A36359 77.85 3.29 5.42 3.29 8.87 PMON68537 GM_A36359 76.713.65 6.07 3.35 8.95 PMON68537 GM_A36359 71.73 4.01 6.79 3.49 12.68PMON68537 GM_A36359 69.32 4.51 6.99 3.66 14.13 PMON68537 GM_A36359 68.634.44 6.91 3.76 14.89 PMON68537 GM_A36359 18.87 8.03 13.38 3.86 54.81PMON68537 GM_A36359 16.81 9.83 13.08 4.68 54.55 PMON68537 GM_A3636079.34 3.29 5.99 3.15 6.88 PMON68537 GM_A36360 75.42 3.47 6.47 3.08 10.26PMON68537 GM_A36360 75.3 3.86 6.69 3.2 9.64 PMON68537 GM_A36360 74.513.8 6.39 3.32 10.67 PMON68537 GM_A36360 21.49 6.95 13.07 3.92 53.46PMON68537 GM_A36360 20.05 7.4 13.09 3.83 54.57 PMON68537 GM_A36360 16.089.14 13.02 4.64 56.03 PMON68537 GM_A36360 15.86 9.07 13.44 4.49 56.04PMON68537 GM_A36361 82.13 2.83 5.67 3.13 4.81 PMON68537 GM_A36361 80.993.2 5.79 3.01 5.64 PMON68537 GM_A36361 74.39 3.85 6.33 3.5 10.59PMON68537 GM_A36361 18.01 8.46 13.18 3.92 55.41 PMON68537 GM_A3636117.99 8.11 13.05 4.09 55.7 PMON68537 GM_A36361 17.35 8.31 13.4 4 55.88PMON68537 GM_A36361 16.81 10.2 12.9 4.32 54.87 PMON68537 GM_A36361 16.558.5 13.21 4.22 56.45 PMON68537 GM_A36362 78.05 3.89 6.29 2.81 7.76PMON68537 GM_A36362 76.89 3.69 6.32 3.12 8.76 PMON68537 GM_A36362 76.1 46.57 3.02 9.24 PMON68537 GM_A36362 76.01 4.08 6.24 3.03 9.48 PMON68537GM_A36362 75.86 3.76 5.68 3.56 9.95 PMON68537 GM_A36362 75.79 4.07 6.433.15 9.34 PMON68537 GM_A36362 74.89 4.14 6.63 3.11 10.07 PMON68537GM_A36362 17.22 8.8 13.75 3.77 55.54 PMON68537 GM_A36363 79.15 3.57 6.23.03 6.84 PMON68537 GM_A36363 75.69 3.83 7.07 2.73 9.53 PMON68537GM_A36363 73.97 4.22 6.82 3.39 10.33 PMON68537 GM_A36363 72.53 4.31 6.643.7 11.59 PMON68537 GM_A36363 68.42 4.5 7.05 3.95 14.79 PMON68537GM_A36363 18.39 8.7 13.61 4.1 54.28 PMON68537 GM_A36363 17.54 8.87 14.084.07 54.56 PMON68537 GM_A36363 15.87 9.66 14.56 4.2 54.69 PMON68537GM_A36365 78.79 3.11 5.87 1.27 9.9 PMON68537 GM_A36365 76.76 3.86 5.791.66 10.91 PMON68537 GM_A36365 75.41 3.49 6.06 1.83 12.15 PMON68537GM_A36365 73.57 3.65 6.11 1.5 14.19 PMON68537 GM_A36365 71.55 3.56 6.621.24 16.08 PMON68537 GM_A36365 70.41 4 6.07 2.15 16.33 PMON68537GM_A36365 66.66 3.9 6.84 1.5 20.21 PMON68537 GM_A36365 63.96 4.22 7.082.27 21.52 PMON68537 GM_A36366 75.44 4.33 6.49 3.21 9.32 PMON68537GM_A36366 74.75 4.21 6.87 2.71 10.33 PMON68537 GM_A36366 74.69 4.65 6.913.06 9.65 PMON68537 GM_A36366 73.23 4.89 7.23 2.99 10.52 PMON68537GM_A36366 72.53 4.76 7.42 3.26 10.85 PMON68537 GM_A36366 67.15 5.05 7.473.33 15.87 PMON68537 GM_A36366 65.81 5.6 7.9 3.37 16.09 PMON68537GM_A36366 62.31 6.19 8.71 3.22 18.55 PMON68537 GM_A36367 80.56 3.3 6.072.58 6.34 PMON68537 GM_A36367 77.78 3.58 6.47 2.66 8.45 PMON68537GM_A36367 77.78 3.46 6.25 2.84 8.51 PMON68537 GM_A36367 77.39 3.81 6.712.86 8.11 PMON68537 GM_A36367 77.32 3.74 6.17 3.12 8.47 PMON68537GM_A36367 75.93 3.97 6.23 3.43 9.29 PMON68537 GM_A36367 72.82 4.09 6.853.25 11.88 PMON68537 GM_A36367 19.31 7.58 13.7 3.59 55 PMON68537GM_A36410 21.67 7.62 13.38 3.43 53.1 PMON68537 GM_A36410 20.9 8.33 12.933.64 53.33 PMON68537 GM_A36410 20.21 8.04 13.28 3.86 53.66 PMON68537GM_A36410 20.02 8.71 12.79 3.71 53.87 PMON68537 GM_A36410 18.96 8.9513.3 3.77 54.15 PMON68537 GM_A36410 18.18 8.98 13.56 3.74 54.66PMON68537 GM_A36410 17.61 9.29 12.93 4.12 55.13 PMON68537 GM_A3641016.78 9.8 13.78 3.92 54.83 PMON68537 GM_A36411 75.06 4.33 6.49 2.9310.08 PMON68537 GM_A36411 74.32 4.46 6.76 2.96 10.38 PMON68537 GM_A3641173.41 4.76 6.91 3.11 10.78 PMON68537 GM_A36411 73.24 4.87 7.28 2.8910.67 PMON68537 GM_A36411 22.38 8.17 13.47 3.6 51.51 PMON68537 GM_A3641118.26 9.07 14.14 3.81 54.02 PMON68537 GM_A36411 17.52 10.1 13.1 4.0354.36 PMON68537 GM_A36411 17.02 9.71 13.45 4.02 54.89 A3244 A3244 18.297.79 13.69 4.15 55.08 A3244 A3244 17.54 8.19 13.32 4.32 55.57 A3244A3244 17.13 8.13 13.21 4.46 56.04 A3244 A3244 15.47 9.56 13.04 4.4356.46 A3244 A3244 15.17 8.95 13.79 4.3 56.78 A3244 A3244 15.05 9.0314.16 4.01 56.8 A3244 A3244 13.51 10.07 12.95 5.07 57.3 A3244 A324413.49 9.91 13.31 4.56 57.67

TABLE 8 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON68539 EventsConstruct Event 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON68539 GM_A36448 4.51 2.6579.64 8.66 3.55 PMON68539 GM_A36448 4.62 2.64 78.35 9.99 3.77 PMON68539GM_A36448 5.89 2.65 76.86 9.79 3.84 PMON68539 GM_A36448 4.92 2.62 72.6114.61 4.01 PMON68539 GM_A36448 5.48 2.86 71.07 15.63 4.16 PMON68539GM_A36448 13.5 4.2 16.28 56.86 8.29 PMON68539 GM_A36448 14.49 4.67 14.8856.56 9.07 PMON68539 GM_A36449 5.16 2.42 81.91 6.54 3.12 PMON68539GM_A36449 4.26 2.41 79.99 8.4 3.94 PMON68539 GM_A36449 4.26 2.72 79.079.32 3.38 PMON68539 GM_A36449 5.01 2.54 75.71 11.94 3.9 PMON68539GM_A36449 4.34 2.76 75.07 12.75 4.16 PMON68539 GM_A36449 11.57 3.5244.08 35.22 4.98 PMON68539 GM_A36449 13.42 3.84 21.35 52.38 8.17PMON68539 GM_A36449 13.25 3.99 15.3 57.6 9.04 PMON68539 GM_A36450 3.282.6 82.21 7.26 3.95 PMON68539 GM_A36450 4.16 2.51 80.93 7.72 3.76PMON68539 GM_A36450 4.3 3.42 78.78 8.43 4.22 PMON68539 GM_A36450 4.843.16 77.07 9.6 4.22 PMON68539 GM_A36450 5.11 3.1 75.21 10.98 4.49PMON68539 GM_A36450 13.74 4.26 17.31 54.32 10.11 PMON68539 GM_A3645013.82 4.34 17.13 54.96 9.47 PMON68539 GM_A36450 13.56 3.83 17.06 56.78.6 PMON68539 GM_A36705 9.73 1.83 75.04 8.23 4.27 PMON68539 GM_A3670510.85 1.74 72.89 9.29 4.53 PMON68539 GM_A36705 10.05 1.78 72.68 9.834.48 PMON68539 GM_A36705 10.02 1.77 72.57 10.04 4.36 PMON68539 GM_A3670510.75 1.75 72.37 9.68 4.77 PMON68539 GM_A36705 10.58 1.78 70.35 11.644.43 PMON68539 GM_A36705 7.69 5.63 16.21 60.39 8.85 PMON68539 GM_A367058.02 5.69 15.58 60.65 8.86 A3244 13.03 4.31 21.23 52.61 7.77 A3244 12.693.98 20.71 55.12 6.53 A3244 15.2 5.02 19.83 49.96 8.83 A3244 12.63 4.8419.55 53.18 8.66 A3244 13.27 4.48 18.28 54.4 8.5 A3244 13.22 4.91 17.3854.73 8.63 A3244 13.44 4.81 15.46 56.49 8.91

Example 11

Construct pMON95829 as described in Example 3D is used to introduce aFAD2-1 intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the Fad2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide. Subsequently, the genomes oftransformed plants are screened for concurrent tandem insertion of thefirst T-DNA and the second T-DNA, i.e. in the “right border to rightborder” assembly. Screening is done with Southern hybridization mappingmethods. Transformed soybean plants containing the preferredconfiguration in their genome are transferred to a green house for seedproduction.

For example, leaf tissue was taken from the R₀ plants transformed withconstruct pMON95829 and Southern analysis is performed. Probes andrestriction enzyme digests are chosen in order to identify eventscontaining a right-border-right-border (“RB-RB”) assembly of bothT-DNAs. Typically, approximately 25% of all transformants have properlyassembled RB-RB T-DNAs.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON95829 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON95829 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 9). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 9 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON95829 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON95829 GM_A94247 2.1 2.883.0 6.0 5.5 PMON95829 GM_A94296 2.6 2.9 80.6 7.1 5.8 PMON95829GM_A93590 2.5 2.8 80.4 7.4 5.8 PMON95829 GM_A93437 2.6 2.8 79.8 7.9 6.0PMON95829 GM_A93517 2.9 2.8 79.5 7.7 6.0 PMON95829 GM_A93647 2.3 3.078.6 9.0 6.5 PMON95829 GM_A93670 3.1 2.9 77.3 10.1 6.2 PMON95829GM_A92396 2.9 2.6 76.0 11.1 7.0 PMON95829 GM_A92455 3.6 3.1 74.9 12.05.5 PMON95829 GM_A93678 2.8 3.4 74.0 11.9 7.4 PMON95829 GM_A93640 2.52.7 71.6 14.6 7.6 PMON95829 GM_A94937 4.5 3.3 67.2 17.7 7.1 PMON95829GM_A92481 4.9 2.8 58.1 25.3 8.1 PMON95829 GM_A94306 3.1 3.2 55.9 29.07.9 PMON95829 GM_A94211 3.0 2.7 47.0 38.3 8.7

Example 12

Construct pMON93505 as described in Example 3D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the Fad2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide. Subsequently, the genomes oftransformed plants are screened for concurrent tandem insertion of thefirst T-DNA and the second T-DNA, i.e. in the “right border to rightborder” assembly. Screening is done with Southern hybridization mappingmethods. Transformed soybean plants containing the preferredconfiguration in their genome are transferred to a green house for seedproduction.

For example, leaf tissue was taken from the R₀ plants transformed withconstruct pMON93505 and Southern analysis is performed. Probes andrestriction enzyme digests are chosen in order to identify eventscontaining a right-border-right-border (“RB-RB”) assembly of bothT-DNAs. Typically, approximately 25% of all transformants have properlyassembled RB-RB T-DNAs.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON93505 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON93505 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 10). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 10 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93505 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93505 GM_A87814 1.3 1.084.9 5.5 6.3 PMON93505 GM_A86449 1.5 0.9 84.9 4.9 6.8 PMON93505GM_A86032 1.5 1.1 83.5 6.3 7.0 PMON93505 GM_A86159 1.5 0.9 82.8 6.7 7.5PMON93505 GM_A86178 1.7 1.0 82.5 6.7 7.3 PMON93505 GM_A86075 1.4 0.981.4 6.6 8.5 PMON93505 GM_A86303 1.0 0.6 81.4 7.4 8.8 PMON93505GM_A86454 1.4 0.9 79.9 7.4 8.8 PMON93505 GM_A86799 1.4 1.1 79.4 9.6 7.7PMON93505 GM_A85997 2.2 2.5 79.3 7.7 7.4 PMON93505 GM_A86058 1.8 1.076.8 11.3 8.3 PMON93505 GM_A86274 1.2 0.7 74.6 10.2 11.9 PMON93505GM_A86325 1.1 0.7 72.8 15.4 9.2 PMON93505 GM_A85969 2.0 0.7 70.7 13.612.1 PMON93505 GM_A86033 1.7 0.9 69.1 18.2 9.5 PMON93505 GM_A86372 1.71.0 65.7 12.6 17.6 PMON93505 GM_A86403 1.5 0.9 64.6 16.8 15.4 PMON93505GM_A87803 1.1 0.6 57.7 26.0 13.8 PMON93505 GM_A86036 3.1 1.5 54.8 30.49.7 PMON93505 GM_A86269 4.9 1.8 51.4 31.9 9.5

Example 13

Construct pMON93506 as described in Example 3D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide. Subsequently, the genomes oftransformed plants are screened for concurrent tandem insertion of thefirst T-DNA and the second T-DNA, i.e. in the “right border to rightborder” assembly. Screening is done with Southern hybridization mappingmethods. Transformed soybean plants containing the preferredconfiguration in their genome are transferred to a green house for seedproduction.

For example, leaf tissue was taken from the R₀ plants transformed withconstruct pMON93506 and Southern analysis is performed. Probes andrestriction enzyme digests are chosen in order to identify eventscontaining a right-border-right-border (“RB-RB”) assembly of bothT-DNAs. Typically, approximately 25% of all transformants have properlyassembled RB-RB T-DNAs.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON93506 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON93506 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 11). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 11 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93506 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93506 GM_A87174 2.2 0.888.1 2.3 5.1 PMON93506 GM_A86998 2.1 0.6 87.1 3.4 5.5 PMON93506GM_A87075 2.7 1.2 85.9 4.8 4.2 PMON93506 GM_A87255 2.9 0.8 84.8 5.5 5.4PMON93506 GM_A91253 2.7 0.9 84.5 5.9 5.1 PMON93506 GM_A86561 2.8 0.783.8 5.9 6.0 PMON93506 GM_A86875 3.1 1.0 83.6 6.2 5.5 PMON93506GM_A89967 1.8 1.3 83.2 4.1 7.9 PMON93506 GM_A86927 2.1 0.8 82.6 4.8 8.5PMON93506 GM_A87883 2.7 0.7 82.4 6.5 7.2 PMON93506 GM_A87133 3.0 3.181.5 5.2 6.3 PMON93506 GM_A88072 2.8 0.7 80.6 8.2 7.1 PMON93506GM_A87069 3.8 0.7 80.4 8.2 6.4 PMON93506 GM_A86835 2.7 3.0 80.3 6.4 6.4PMON93506 GM_A87929 2.7 1.0 76.3 7.8 11.5 PMON93506 GM_A87298 3.0 1.272.9 13.0 9.1 PMON93506 GM_A91226 3.4 1.0 69.3 18.0 7.7 PMON93506GM_A88076 3.7 3.9 68.0 15.4 8.1 PMON93506 GM_A86530 2.9 1.0 59.3 25.011.5 PMON93506 GM_A87292 4.6 4.3 54.2 27.6 8.3 PMON93506 GM_A87076 5.50.9 46.7 38.0 8.4

Example 14

Construct pMON93501 as described in Example 3B is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON93501 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON93501 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 12). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 12 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93501 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93501 GM_A85435 4.4 1.185.8 2.5 5.1 PMON93501 GM_A85439 4.6 0.9 84.8 3.7 5.1 PMON93501GM_A85276 4.8 1.4 84.3 3.0 4.9 PMON93501 GM_A85697 4.8 1.3 83.6 3.8 5.6PMON93501 GM_A85777 6.6 1.8 80.0 4.5 6.4 PMON93501 GM_A84790 7.2 5.778.3 2.9 4.7 PMON93501 GM_A85910 4.2 1.1 77.8 6.9 9.3 PMON93501GM_A86186 5.3 1.1 77.4 7.4 7.7 PMON93501 GM_A85065 7.3 2.2 76.8 5.7 6.9PMON93501 GM_A85744 4.1 0.9 76.0 7.4 10.6 PMON93501 GM_A85261 4.7 1.075.8 4.9 11.9 PMON93501 GM_A85479 3.7 1.1 75.8 8.6 9.8 PMON93501GM_A85819 4.5 1.7 74.9 6.9 11.1 PMON93501 GM_A85945 4.6 1.2 74.6 8.710.0 PMON93501 GM_A85301 6.9 1.2 73.1 9.5 8.4 PMON93501 GM_A85929 6.11.4 72.4 10.8 8.7 PMON93501 GM_A85908 6.9 1.3 70.0 8.0 13.6 PMON93501GM_A85393 4.8 1.3 67.0 13.3 12.2 PMON93501 GM_A85756 4.8 1.8 57.3 17.617.8 PMON93501 GM_A85415 5.0 1.3 52.9 26.0 12.1 PMON93501 GM_A85950 5.51.8 47.5 38.6 6.1 PMON93501 GM_A84705 5.7 2.3 46.0 37.7 7.4 PMON93501GM_A85787 4.5 1.6 43.4 37.0 13.1

Example 15

Construct pMON97552 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON97552 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON97552 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 13). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 13 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON97552 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON97552 GM_A98359 2.1 2.784.4 4.7 5.3 PMON97552 GM_A98361 2.3 2.7 84.0 5.3 4.8 PMON97552GM_A98358 2.3 2.7 81.6 6.8 6.2

Example 16

Construct pMON93758 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON93758 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON93758 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 14). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 14 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93758 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93758 GM_A89686 2.7 2.982.7 5.3 5.5 PMON93758 GM_A89678 2.9 2.9 81.8 5.5 6.0 PMON93758GM_A89670 2.8 3.0 81.7 5.6 6.1 PMON93758 GM_A89688 2.7 3.2 81.6 5.8 5.9PMON93758 GM_A89683 2.9 2.9 81.5 5.8 6.1 PMON93758 GM_A89699 2.7 3.181.4 5.8 6.1 PMON93758 GM_A89675 2.9 3.0 81.4 5.6 6.2 PMON93758GM_A89690 3.0 2.8 81.3 5.7 6.3 PMON93758 GM_A89680 3.0 2.8 81.3 5.9 6.0PMON93758 GM_A89674 2.9 2.9 80.4 6.3 6.7 PMON93758 GM_A89677 3.0 2.879.7 7.0 6.8 PMON93758 GM_A89676 3.0 2.9 78.7 7.6 7.4 PMON93758GM_A89694 3.2 2.8 76.7 8.8 8.0 PMON93758 GM_A89696 3.0 2.6 74.7 10.4 8.9

Example 17

Construct pMON97553 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON97553 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON97553 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 15). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 15 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON97553 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON97553 GM_A98670 2.1 2.686.7 2.9 4.3 PMON97553 GM_A98595 2.3 2.7 86.3 3.5 4.7 PMON97553GM_A98649 2.2 2.9 86.3 3.6 4.7 PMON97553 GM_A98669 2.1 3.0 85.5 3.3 4.6PMON97553 GM_A98656 2.4 2.8 85.5 4.2 4.6 PMON97553 GM_A98643 2.3 2.885.0 3.8 4.9 PMON97553 GM_A98647 2.2 2.8 84.2 5.1 5.6 PMON97553GM_A98582 2.6 2.8 84.0 4.1 5.6 PMON97553 GM_A98674 2.1 2.3 83.9 5.8 5.3PMON97553 GM_A98663 2.2 2.8 83.3 5.5 5.1 PMON97553 GM_A98587 2.8 2.883.0 5.5 5.3 PMON97553 GM_A98592 2.9 2.9 82.9 4.6 5.8 PMON97553GM_A98677 2.2 3.0 82.4 5.9 5.4 PMON97553 GM_A98594 2.2 2.9 82.3 6.5 5.4PMON97553 GM_A98659 2.5 3.0 82.2 5.4 6.1 PMON97553 GM_A98622 2.8 3.081.6 6.0 6.1 PMON97553 GM_A98589 2.9 3.0 81.3 6.2 6.1 PMON97553GM_A98679 2.2 3.1 81.2 6.7 5.7 PMON97553 GM_A98642 2.3 3.1 80.0 7.4 6.1PMON97553 GM_A98639 2.7 3.0 78.4 8.0 6.8 PMON97553 GM_A98563 3.3 2.978.1 9.9 5.6 PMON97553 GM_A98618 2.9 2.8 78.0 8.8 6.9 PMON97553GM_A98567 2.7 3.2 77.5 9.1 6.3 PMON97553 GM_A98625 2.3 2.9 77.4 9.5 6.9PMON97553 GM_A98660 3.3 2.9 77.1 10.7 5.6 PMON97553 GM_A98615 2.7 3.276.4 9.9 7.1 PMON97553 GM_A98561 3.3 3.1 75.3 10.9 6.7 PMON97553GM_A98603 2.9 3.6 73.5 11.0 7.8 PMON97553 GM_A98648 2.7 3.3 70.2 14.48.3 PMON97553 GM_A98565 3.2 2.8 67.9 17.9 7.2 PMON97553 GM_A98681 3.13.0 65.9 19.3 7.7

Example 18

Construct pMON93770 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON93770 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON93770 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since RI plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 16). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 16 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93770 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93770 GM_A97973 2.8 2.780.0 7.3 6.2 PMON93770 GM_A97996 2.5 3.5 76.6 9.5 6.8 PMON93770GM_A97977 2.7 3.1 75.8 9.8 7.5 PMON93770 GM_A97981 3.1 3.0 71.8 13.2 8.0PMON93770 GM_A97971 3.4 3.1 70.3 14.8 7.5 PMON93770 GM_A97985 2.9 2.767.9 15.9 9.6 PMON93770 GM_A97991 3.2 2.9 66.4 19.0 7.6

Example 19

Construct pMON93759 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON93759 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON93759 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 17). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 17 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93759 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93759 GM_A88219 3.0 2.777.0 9.1 7.4 PMON93759 GM_A88212 3.1 2.7 76.6 9.1 7.6 PMON93759GM_A88205 3.1 2.8 73.9 11.5 7.8 PMON93759 GM_A88209 2.9 2.7 73.9 11.68.2 PMON93759 GM_A88222 3.1 2.6 73.7 11.9 8.0 PMON93759 GM_A88223 2.72.6 73.5 12.4 8.3 PMON93759 GM_A88215 2.9 2.9 73.3 12.1 7.9 PMON93759GM_A88202 3.4 2.8 72.9 12.6 7.7 PMON93759 GM_A88220 3.0 3.0 72.1 13.37.7 PMON93759 GM_A88213 2.9 3.0 71.8 13.1 8.3 PMON93759 GM_A88210 3.32.8 71.6 13.5 8.3 PMON93759 GM_A88217 2.5 2.7 71.5 14.9 7.8 PMON93759GM_A88206 2.9 2.9 71.3 13.3 8.8 PMON93759 GM_A88211 3.1 3.0 71.3 13.87.9 PMON93759 GM_A88204 3.1 2.8 70.5 14.3 8.8 PMON93759 GM_A88201 3.22.7 69.4 15.5 8.4 PMON93759 GM_A88200 3.3 3.0 67.3 17.1 8.5 PMON93759GM_A88214 3.3 2.9 60.6 23.7 8.7 PMON93759 GM_A88203 3.5 3.1 60.6 23.38.9 PMON93759 GM_A88226 3.0 2.8 60.5 23.7 9.5 PMON93759 GM_A88198 4.73.1 42.7 39.6 9.1

Example 20

Construct pMON97554 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON97554 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON97554 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 18). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 18 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON97554 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON97554 GM_A98420 2.3 2.680.4 8.0 5.7 PMON97554 GM_A98445 2.1 3.0 77.4 10.1 6.3 PMON97554GM_A98423 2.7 2.9 77.0 10.3 6.1 PMON97554 GM_A98440 2.7 2.8 76.0 10.86.6 PMON97554 GM_A98438 2.8 3.0 70.6 15.2 7.3 PMON97554 GM_A98435 3.63.0 69.6 16.5 6.3

Example 21

Construct pMON93771 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON93771 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON93771 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 19). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 19 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93771 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93771 GM_A97841 2.5 2.370.8 17.0 6.6 PMON93771 GM_A97839 3.8 3.0 65.8 18.3 8.1 PMON93771GM_A97836 4.1 2.9 65.5 19.3 7.1 PMON93771 GM_A97844 2.6 2.7 65.2 20.98.0 PMON93771 GM_A97835 4.4 2.9 62.9 21.0 7.8 PMON93771 GM_A97852 3.33.1 62.9 21.0 8.9 PMON93771 GM_A97857 3.4 2.7 61.7 22.6 8.7 PMON93771GM_A97846 4.2 2.7 52.0 30.8 9.6

Example 22

Construct pMON97555 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON97555 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON97555 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 20). For example, FAD2 suppression provides plantswith increased amount of oleic acid ester compounds.

TABLE 20 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON97555 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON97555 GM_A98913 2.7 2.971.0 14.5 7.8 PMON97555 GM_A98912 2.1 2.2 70.5 18.0 6.4 PMON97555GM_A98905 2.7 3.1 65.9 19.0 8.2 PMON97555 GM_A98909 2.4 2.8 63.5 21.59.1 PMON97555 GM_A98936 4.9 2.4 61.9 24.9 5.3 PMON97555 GM_A98893 2.52.8 61.5 23.7 8.6 PMON97555 GM_A98924 3.0 3.0 61.4 23.5 8.1 PMON97555GM_A98904 3.1 2.9 60.6 24.0 8.3 PMON97555 GM_A98938 2.3 2.9 58.3 28.17.6 PMON97555 GM_A98900 3.2 2.8 56.7 28.4 8.0 PMON97555 GM_A98906 2.72.9 56.7 27.8 8.8 PMON97555 GM_A98917 2.7 3.1 53.0 32.1 8.4 PMON97555GM_A98939 3.0 3.1 52.9 31.4 8.9 PMON97555 GM_A98935 4.5 3.2 48.2 35.47.8 PMON97555 GM_A98919 3.1 3.4 44.2 40.3 8.0

Example 23

Construct pMON93760 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON93760 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON93760 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 21). For example, FAD2-1 intron, reduced in length by320 contiguous nucleotides from the 5′ end of (SEQ ID NO: 1) and capableof forming dsRNA, does at least partially suppress FAD2.

TABLE 21 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93760 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93760 GM_A88236 10.0 3.658.3 23.4 4.4 PMON93760 GM_A88240 2.9 2.6 56.0 28.4 9.5 PMON93760GM_A88245 3.3 3.2 54.8 28.7 9.6 PMON93760 GM_A88231 3.2 2.7 48.8 35.09.6 PMON93760 GM_A88234 3.8 2.7 47.7 36.1 9.1 PMON93760 GM_A88252 3.12.5 45.3 40.9 7.5 PMON93760 GM_A88244 3.4 3.0 41.6 42.2 9.2 PMON93760GM_A88256 2.7 2.7 41.3 44.6 8.5 PMON93760 GM_A88243 2.8 2.7 36.6 50.47.1 PMON93760 GM_A88254 3.7 2.6 27.5 58.1 7.6 PMON93760 GM_A88253 3.72.8 25.4 60.6 6.9 PMON93760 GM_A88239 7.2 2.8 25.0 58.6 6.2 PMON93760GM_A88250 4.7 2.9 24.4 59.2 8.4 PMON93760 GM_A88251 5.5 3.0 22.7 60.08.6

Example 24

Construct pMON93772 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON93772 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON93772 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 22). For example, FAD2-1 intron, reduced in length by360 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end of (SEQ ID NO: 1) and capableof forming dsRNA, does at least partially suppress FAD2 for some events.

TABLE 22 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93772 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93772 GM_A97768 3.4 2.369.6 17.6 6.3 PMON93772 GM_A97781 3.3 2.6 55.1 30.9 7.3 PMON93772GM_A97763 3.7 2.6 45.2 38.2 9.6 PMON93772 GM_A97796 2.3 2.9 35.1 50.38.7 PMON93772 GM_A97798 3.3 2.6 33.5 51.2 8.6 PMON93772 GM_A97782 2.62.7 33.4 52.0 8.5 PMON93772 GM_A97819 3.8 3.1 30.1 53.8 8.7 PMON93772GM_A97777 3.3 2.7 28.1 56.7 8.6 PMON93772 GM_A97767 2.9 2.8 26.3 57.99.6 PMON93772 GM_A97792 3.7 2.6 26.2 57.8 9.1 PMON93772 GM_A97808 3.03.0 25.7 58.4 9.2 PMON93772 GM_A97790 2.8 2.7 25.1 59.7 9.2 PMON93772GM_A97805 3.5 2.8 24.6 59.7 8.7 PMON93772 GM_A97817 3.5 2.9 24.0 59.49.5 PMON93772 GM_A97828 3.2 2.9 23.4 60.3 9.8 PMON93772 GM_A97812 2.52.9 23.0 61.3 9.8 PMON93772 GM_A97765 2.8 3.0 20.7 63.0 10.1

Example 25

Construct pMON97556 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON97556 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON97556 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the mono- and polyunsaturated fattyacid compositions are altered in the oil of seeds from transgenicsoybean lines as compared to that of the seed from non-transformedsoybean (See Table 23). For example, FAD2-1 intron, reduced in length by200 contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end of (SEQ ID NO: 1) and capableof forming dsRNA, does at least partially suppress FAD2.

TABLE 23 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON97556 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON97556 GM_A98772 3.6 2.834.3 51.0 7.4 PMON97556 GM_A98744 2.4 2.6 26.6 60.3 7.4 PMON97556GM_A98787 2.5 2.8 26.4 58.9 8.7 PMON97556 GM_A98745 2.2 2.5 26.3 60.28.0 PMON97556 GM_A98758 2.5 2.9 25.6 59.6 8.7 PMON97556 GM_A98789 2.12.5 22.3 64.9 7.7 PMON97556 GM_A98790 2.2 3.0 22.1 62.8 9.4 PMON97556GM_A98783 2.5 2.6 21.5 64.0 8.7 PMON97556 GM_A98761 2.3 2.3 20.9 65.28.7

Example 26

Construct pMON93764 as described in Example 2D is used to introduce aFAD2-1A intron, double-stranded RNA-forming construct into soybean forsuppressing the FAD2 gene. The vector is stably introduced into soybean(Asgrow variety A4922) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain ABI(Martinell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,301). The CP4 selectable marker allowstransformed soybean plants to be identified by selection on mediacontaining glyphosate herbicide.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with a pMON93764 construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compoundsextracted from seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plantstransformed with construct pMON93764 are harvested, and the fatty acidcomposition of each single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of eachevent are segregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seedswith conventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the saturated fatty acid compositionsare altered in the oil of seeds from transgenic soybean lines ascompared to that of the seed from non-transformed soybean (See Table24). Also, FAD2-1 intron, reduced in length by 400 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end of (SEQ ID NO: 1) and capable of formingdsRNA, does not substantially reduce FAD2 expression.

TABLE 24 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON93764 eventsConstruct Event # 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON93764 GM_A98489 2.1 2.228.1 60.5 6.5 PMON93764 GM_A98452 2.2 2.2 27.4 61.3 6.8 PMON93764GM_A98451 2.3 2.5 26.2 60.7 7.8 PMON93764 GM_A98467 2.5 2.8 25.4 60.98.2 PMON93764 GM_A98455 1.8 2.3 24.4 63.5 7.8 PMON93764 GM_A98499 1.82.5 24.1 63.5 7.8 PMON93764 GM_A98453 2.5 2.6 23.7 63.2 7.5 PMON93764GM_A98492 1.6 2.7 23.7 63.6 7.7 PMON93764 GM_A98456 1.8 2.4 23.4 64.28.0 PMON93764 GM_A98471 2.2 2.7 23.4 64.2 7.4 PMON93764 GM_A98500 2.52.3 22.9 64.1 7.9 PMON93764 GM_A98482 2.3 2.5 22.9 64.6 7.3 PMON93764GM_A98485 2.5 2.7 22.8 63.8 8.0 PMON93764 GM_A98463 1.9 2.2 22.6 64.78.3 PMON93764 GM_A98469 3.4 2.5 22.1 63.3 8.5 PMON93764 GM_A98474 1.62.3 21.5 65.7 8.4 PMON93764 GM_A98483 2.0 2.5 21.4 65.4 8.5 PMON93764GM_A98476 2.7 2.6 21.2 64.4 8.8 PMON93764 GM_A98498 2.5 2.5 21.1 64.88.9 PMON93764 GM_A98496 2.5 2.3 20.6 65.2 8.9 PMON93764 GM_A98468 1.92.7 19.3 66.0 9.7

Example 27

TaqMan is an assay that quantifies nucleic acids via a selectiveamplification and real-time fluorescence measurements (also calledreal-time PCR). This procedure is used to determine the extent of targettranscript suppression in transgenic developing seeds. To determine theabsolute transcript levels of target mRNA in a sample, a standard curveis established for each TaqMan experiment. For this purpose, differentamounts of cloned soy target gene sequence, diluted in 20 ng total RNAfrom canola, are amplified in parallel with the samples of unknowntarget amounts. Precision of the transcript copy number determined inthis way has an error margin of 25%.

For template material, total RNA is extracted using an ABI 6100 NucleicAcid Prep Station, and 20 ng is used per TaqMan sample. The samples areanalyzed on an ABI 700 Sequence Detection instrument using ABI Prism-OneStep RT-PCR Master Mix Chemistry. TaqMan Count (Ct) values from the endof the TaqMan PCR reaction are plotted against the known quantity ofsynthetic target sequence to calculate a linear regression so that theamount of FAD2-1 target DNA in an unknown sample can be determined fromthe TaqMan Ct values created at the end of each TaqMan PCR reaction.

Plants were transformed with either pMON68540, pMON68546, or pMON80623,all of which suppress FAD2-1A (see Section 3A and FIG. 7 fordescriptions of the constructs).

Total RNA is obtained from null and transformed plants using an ABI 6100Nucleic Acid Prep Station. Transformed plants are third generationhomozygous and have levels of oleic acid greater than 50%. FAD2-1Aprimers, FAD2-1B primers, or FAD2-2A primers are added in separateTaqMan samples to the total RNA from each plant to be tested. Thesamples are analyzed on an ABI 700 Sequence Detection instrument usingABI Prism-One Step RT-PCR Master Mix Chemistry.

All transgenic plants substantially suppress FAD2-1A and FAD2-1Btranscript levels. None of the transgenic plants even partially reducedFAD2-2A or FAD2-2B levels.

Plant to plant comparisons of FAD2-1A transcript levels in null plantsdetermine natural variation between plants. FAD2-1A mRNA from developingseeds is assayed using PCR primers, which produce the Probe sequence inmultiple plants. Seeds at size 0.2 g fresh weight are taken from fourdifferent R₂ null segregant plants, each plant from a different line. R₂seed pools of same size class and from four different null segregantsare tested. PCR reactions are done in triplicate and the results arenormalized in comparison to the amount of 18S RNA in each sample. Plantto plant biological variability in FAD2-1A transcripts is low. Three ofthe four samples have a normalized TaqMan Count (Ct) value of about 65and one of the samples has a normalized TaqMan Ct value of about 50.

Example 28

A 200 contiguous fragment of soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1)sequence is amplified via PCR to result in PCR products that include thefirst 200 nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1, starting at the 5′ end of SEQ IDNO: 1. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation, intoa vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ terminationsequence, by way of restriction sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of thePCR primers. The vector is then cut with a restriction enzyme andligated into a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resultinggene expression construct is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with this construct using gas chromatography as described inExample 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compounds extractedfrom seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plants transformedwith this construct are harvested, and the fatty acid composition ofeach single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of each event aresegregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seeds withconventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the saturated fatty acid compositionsare altered in the oil of seeds from transgenic soybean lines ascompared to that of the seed from non-transformed soybean.

Example 29

A 180 contiguous fragment of soybean FAD2-1 intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1)sequence is amplified via PCR to result in PCR products that include thefirst 180 nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1, starting at the 3′ end of SEQ IDNO: 1. The PCR products are cloned directly, in sense orientation, intoa vector containing the soybean 7Sα′ promoter and a tml 3′ terminationsequence, by way of restriction sites engineered onto the 5′ ends of thePCR primers. The vector is then cut with a restriction enzyme andligated into a vector that contains the CP4 EPSPS gene regulated by theFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence. The resultinggene expression construct is used for transformation using methods asdescribed herein.

Fatty acid compositions are analyzed from seed of soybean linestransformed with this construct using gas chromatography as described inExample 4 to identify methyl esters of fatty acid compounds extractedfrom seeds. First, six R₁ seeds taken from soybean plants transformedwith this construct are harvested, and the fatty acid composition ofeach single seed is determined. Since R₁ plants of each event aresegregating for the transgenes and, therefore, yield seeds withconventional soybean composition, as well as modified versions. Thepositive seeds are pooled and averaged for each event. The pooledpositive averages demonstrate that the saturated fatty acid compositionsare altered in the oil of seeds from transgenic soybean lines ascompared to that of the seed from non-transformed soybean.

Example 30

pMON97562 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linked to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and linked to a FAD3-1A 5′UTR, followed by aFAD3-1A 3′UTR, linked to a FAD3-1B 5′UTR, followed by a FAD3-1B 3′UTR,followed by a FATB-1a 5′UTR, followed by a FATB-1a 3′UTR, operablylinking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron 4, operably linking to aFATB-1a 3′UTR in the anti-sense orientation followed by a FATB-1a 5′UTRin the antisense orientation, linked to a FAD3-1B 3′UTR in antisense,followed by a FAD3-1B 5′UTR in antisense, linked to a FAD3-1A 3′UTR inantisense, followed by a FAD3-1A 5′UTR in antisense, followed by asoybean FAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100contiguous nucleotides from the 3′ end and in the anti-senseorientation, operably linked to a H6 3′ polyadenylation segment with aCP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to an EFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E93′ termination sequence all flanked by RB and LB on the same DNAmolecule. The resulting gene expression construct is used for soytransformation using methods as described herein. Fatty acidcompositions are determined from seed of soybean lines transformed withthis construct using gas chromatography as described in Example 4. Table25 gives the compositions of representative seeds. The level of 18:3 isreduced to approximately 1%.

TABLE 25 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON97562 eventsConstruct Event 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON97562 GM_A103478 2.82 3.1782.88 9.18 1.15 PMON97562 GM_A103481 2.99 2.75 82.7 9.39 1.13 PMON97562GM_A103476 3.13 3.11 81.35 10.25 1.12

Example 31

pMON97563 contains a soybean 7Sα′ promoter operably linked to a soybeanFAD2-1A intron 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguousnucleotides from the 3′ end and linked to a FAD3-1A 5′UTR, followed by aFAD3-1A 3′UTR, linked to a FAD3-1B 5′UTR, followed by a FAD3-1B 3′UTR,linked to a FAD3-1C 5′UTR, followed by a FAD3-1C 3′UTR, followed by aFATB-1a CTP coding region, followed by a FATB-2a CTP coding regionoperably linking to 70 nucleotides from FAD3-1A intron 4, operablylinking to a FATB-2a CTP coding region in the anti-sense orientationfollowed by a FATB-1a CTP coding region in the antisense orientation,linked to a FAD3-1C 3′UTR in antisense, followed by a FAD3-1C 5′UTR inantisense, linked to a FAD3-1B 3′UTR in antisense, followed by a FAD3-1B5′UTR in antisense, linked to a FAD3-1A 3′UTR in antisense, followed bya FAD3-1A 5′UTR in antisense, followed by a soybean FAD2-1A intron 1(SEQ ID NO: 1), which is reduced by 100 contiguous nucleotides from the3′ end and in the anti-sense orientation, operably linked to a H6 3′polyadenylation segment with a CP4 EPSPS gene operably linking to anEFMV promoter and a pea Rubisco E9 3′ termination sequence all flankedby RB and LB on the same DNA molecule. The resulting gene expressionconstruct is used for plant transformation using methods as describedherein. Fatty acid compositions are determined from seed of soybeanlines transformed with this construct using gas chromatography asdescribed in Example 4. Table 26 gives the compositions ofrepresentative seeds. The level of 18:3 is reduced to approximately 1%.

TABLE 26 Fatty acid composition of R1 single seeds from pMON97563 eventsConstruct Event 16:0 18:0 18:1 18:2 18:3 PMON97563 GM_A109156 2.21 2.7885.05 8.48 0.69 PMON97563 GM_A109196 2.07 2.31 84.4 9.42 0.97 PMON97563GM_A109207 2.24 2.78 83.98 9.36 0.82 PMON97563 GM_A103543 2.21 2.6383.94 10.28 0.95 PMON97563 GM_A103547 2.06 2.47 83.67 10.47 0.89PMON97563 GM_A109146 1.71 2.34 81.14 13.71 0.91 PMON97563 GM_A1091552.33 2.7 80.76 12.28 1.11 PMON97563 GM_A109164 2.07 2.61 78.8 14.6 1PMON97563 GM_A109170 2.68 1.95 78.78 14.14 1.55 PMON97563 GM_A1092772.49 3.19 78.19 14.51 0.93 PMON97563 GM_A109194 2.46 2.81 76.62 16.260.92 PMON97563 GM_A109177 2.56 2.49 72.64 20.14 1.44 PMON97563GM_A109201 2.46 2.9 72.21 20.13 1.11 PMON97563 GM_A103550 2.18 2.6770.84 22.25 1.17 PMON97563 GM_A109203 2.18 2.81 69.93 22.91 0.98

All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein canbe made and executed without undue experimentation in light of thepresent disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this inventionhave been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will beapparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied tothe compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence ofsteps of the method described herein without departing from the concept,spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will beapparent that certain agents which are both chemically andphysiologically related may be substituted for the agents describedherein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All suchsimilar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in theart are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A soybean seed exhibiting a seed oil fatty acid compositioncomprising an oleic acid content of about 42% to 85% by weight of thetotal fatty acids and a saturated fatty acid content of less than 8% byweight of the total fatty acids, wherein said seed further comprises agenome comprising i) a nucleic acid sequence at least 95% identical to asoybean FAD2-1A intron that is between about 20 and about 420nucleotides in length and that is capable, when expressed in a hostcell, of suppressing the expression of endogenous soybean FAD2-1; andii) a combination of two nucleic acid sequences that are each at least95% identical to a fragment of soybean FATB-1 sequence that is at least25 contiguous nucleotides and selected from the group consisting of a)soybean FATB-1 3′UTR; b) soybean FATB-1 5′UTR; and c) soybean FATBtransit peptide encoding sequence, wherein said combination of twosequences is capable, when expressed in a host cell, of suppressing theexpression of endogenous soybean FATB-1 and said combination of twosequences is between about 40 to about 450 nucleotides in length.
 2. Thesoybean seed of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid sequence at least 95%identical to a soybean FAD2-1A intron and said combination of twonucleic acid sequences are each transcribed in sense andantisense-orientations, resulting in RNA which is at least in partdouble-stranded.
 3. The soybean seed of claim 1, wherein said nucleicacid sequence and combination of two nucleic acid sequences thatsuppress the expression of endogenous soybean FAD2-1 and FATB-1 areassembled as a functional transcription unit after insertion into aplant chromosome.
 4. A soybean seed exhibiting a seed oil fatty acidcomposition comprising an oleic acid content of about 42% to 85% byweight of the total fatty acids and a saturated fatty acid content ofless than 8% by weight of the total fatty acids, wherein said seedfurther comprises a genome with a nucleic acid sequence comprising afragment at least 95% identical to a soybean FAD2-1A intron that isbetween about 20 and about 420 nucleotides in length and a soybeanFATB-1 sequence that is between about 40 to about 450 contiguousnucleotides in length, wherein said FATB-1 sequence comprises a UTRfragment.
 5. The soybean seed of claim 4, wherein said fragment at least95% identical to a soybean FAD2-1A intron and said soybean FATB-1sequence are each transcribed in sense- and antisense-orientations,resulting in RNA which is at least in part double-stranded.
 6. Thesoybean seed of claim 4, wherein said nucleic acid sequence is assembledas a functional transcription unit after insertion into a plantchromosome.
 7. A soybean seed exhibiting a seed oil fatty acidcomposition comprising an oleic acid content of about 42% to 85% byweight of the total fatty acids and a saturated fatty acid content ofless than 8% by weight of the total fatty acids, wherein said seedfurther comprises a genome with a nucleic acid sequence that suppressesthe expression of endogenous soybean FAD2-1A, comprising a fragment atleast 95% identical to a soybean FAD2-1A intron that is between about 20and about 420 nucleotides in length; and said genome further comprises anucleic acid sequence that increases the expression of bothbeta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV and delta-9 desaturase.
 8. The soybeanseed of claim 1, wherein said oleic acid content is about 50% to about80% by weight of the total fatty acids.
 9. The soybean seed of claim 1,wherein said oleic acid content is about 46% to about 75% by weight ofthe total fatty acids.
 10. The soybean seed of claim 7, wherein saidoleic acid content is about 50% to about 80% by weight of the totalfatty acids.
 11. The soybean seed of claim 7, wherein said oleic acidcontent is about 46% to about 75% by weight of the total fatty acids.12. The soybean seed of claim 4, wherein said oleic acid content isabout 50% to about 80% by weight of the total fatty acids.
 13. Thesoybean seed of claim 4, wherein said oleic acid content is about 46% toabout 75% by weight of the total fatty acids.
 14. The soybean seed ofclaim 1, wherein said nucleic acid sequence at least 95% identical to asoybean FAD2-1A intron is between about 100 to about 320 nucleotides inlength and said combination of two nucleic acid sequences comprises afragment of a FATB-1 5′UTR.
 15. The soybean seed of claim 1, whereinsaid nucleic acid sequence at least 95% identical to a soybean FAD2-1Aintron is selected from the group consisting of about 30 to about 420,between about 40 to about 320, between about 50 to about 200, betweenabout 50 to about 400, between about 50 to about 420, between about 60to about 320, about 70 to about 220, between about 100 to about 200,between about 150 to about 200, between about 150 to about 220, betweenabout 150 to about 400, between about 200 to about 300, and betweenabout 300 to about 400 nucleotides in length.
 16. The soybean seed ofclaim 4, wherein said nucleic acid sequence at least 95% identical to asoybean FAD2-1A intron is between about 100 to about 320 nucleotides inlength.
 17. The soybean seed of claim 4, wherein said nucleic acidsequence at least 95% identical to a soybean FAD2-1A intron is selectedfrom the group consisting of about 30 to about 420, between about 40 toabout 320, between about 50 to about 200, between about 50 to about 400,between about 50 to about 420, between about 60 to about 320, about 70to about 220, between about 100 to about 200, between about 150 to about200, between about 150 to about 220, between about 150 to about 400,between about 200 to about 300, and between about 300 to about 400nucleotides in length.
 18. The soybean seed of claim 7, wherein saidnucleic acid sequence at least 95% identical to a soybean FAD2-1A intronis between about 100 to about 320 nucleotides in length.
 19. The soybeanseed of claim 7, wherein the length of said nucleic acid sequence atleast 95% identical to a soybean FAD2-1A intron is selected from thegroup consisting of about 30 to about 420, between about 40 to about320, between about 50 to about 200, between about 50 to about 400,between about 50 to about 420, between about 60 to about 320, about 70to about 220, between about 100 to about 200, between about 150 to about200, between about 150 to about 220, between about 150 to about 400,between about 200 to about 300, and between about 300 to about 400nucleotides.
 20. The soybean seed of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acidsequence comprises a fragment 100% identical to a soybean FAD2-1A intronthat is between about 20 and about 420 nucleotides in length and saidcombination of two sequences is 100% identical to a soybean FATB-1 andis between about 40 to about 450 nucleotides in length; and said genomefurther comprises a nucleic acid sequence that increases the expressionof one or both of beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase IV and delta-9 desaturase.21. The soybean seed of claim 4, wherein said nucleic acid sequencecomprises a fragment 100% identical to a soybean FAD2-1A intron that isbetween about 20 and about 420 nucleotides in length and a soybeanFATB-1 sequence that is between about 40 to about 450 contiguousnucleotides in length, wherein said FATB-1 sequence comprises a UTRfragment.
 22. The soybean seed of claim 7, wherein said nucleic acidsequence that suppresses the expression of endogenous soybean FAD2-1Acomprises a fragment 100% identical to a soybean FAD2-A intron that isbetween about 20 and about 420 nucleotides in length.
 23. A soybean seedexhibiting a seed oil fatty acid composition comprising an oleic acidcontent of about 42% to 85% by weight of the total fatty acids and asaturated fatty acid content of less than 8% by weight of the totalfatty acids, wherein said seed further comprises a genome comprising i)a nucleic acid sequence at least 90% identical to a soybean FAD2-1 Aintron that is between about 20 and about 420 nucleotides in length andthat is capable, when expressed in a host cell, of suppressing theexpression of endogenous soybean FAD2-1; and ii) a combination of twonucleic acid sequences that are each at least 90% identical to afragment of soybean FATB-1 sequence that is at least 25 contiguousnucleotides and selected from the group consisting of a) soybean FATB-13′UTR; b) soybean FATB-1 5′UTR; and c) soybean FATB transit peptideencoding sequence, wherein said combination of two sequences is capable,when expressed in a host cell, of suppressing the expression ofendogenous soybean FATB-1 and said combination of two sequences isbetween about 40 to about 450 nucleotides in length.
 24. The soybeanseed of claim 1, wherein said combination of two sequences is saidsoybean FATB transit peptide encoding sequence and about 45 contiguousnucleotides of said soybean FATB-1 5′UTR.
 25. The soybean seed of claim1, wherein said combination of two sequences is said soybean FATBtransit peptide encoding sequence and 42 contiguous nucleotides of saidsoybean FATB-1 5′UTR.